Business & Money | Sunday 17 February, 2019 8:51 am |

A member of the Saudi Economic Association (SEA) has said the Red Sea Project will create 35,000 job opportunities, attract a million visitors annually and put the Kingdom on the international tourism map whereas the Amaala project will create over 22,000 job opportunities.

The Red Sea Project will also reduce unemployment significantly as it falls in line with Vision 2030, said Dr. Abdullah Al-Maghlouth while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette.

He said the two projects were located alongside the Red Sea coast in the northwest of the Kingdom but the difference between the two lies in the fact that the former focuses on developing exceptional tourist resorts on over 50 natural islands situated between Al-Wajh and Umluj cities while the latter, also called the Riviera of the Middle East, invents a new concept for fancy and luxurious tourism focusing on recuperation, wellness and recreation as per international standards.

Amaala is the new luxurious tourist destination, which will also stimulate economic growth and diversify the tourism industry in line with Vision 2030 while preserving cultural values and sustainable environment. Most of the job opportunities will be in hospitality, tourism and entertainment sectors in addition to construction sector jobs. “It will be an important domestic and foreign investment drive,” said Al-Maghlouth.

Tabuk University President Dr. Abdullah Al-Theyabi said Amaal, Red Sea and Neom projects will help the Kingdom open to world’s cultures and civilizations because they enjoy a strategic location that connects several continents with one another.

Haqal Governor Khalid Al-Khuraisi said the region had seen unprecedented rise in the number of international projects, which are funded by the Public Investment Fund. “The returns will be huge economically and socially,” he said.