Red Sea Global Launches Classic Sailing Race To Celebrate Saudi Arabia's Maritime Heritage

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer of The Red Sea and AMAALA, recently concluded the Red Sea Classic Sailing Race. This two-day event took place at Turtle Bay Village, drawing both local residents and visitors to celebrate traditional sailboat racing and honour the maritime heritage of the Red Sea region. The race featured 11 restored traditional sailboats, made possible through collaboration with various partners.

The restoration of these sailboats involved joint efforts with the National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, Oil Sustainability Program (OSP), and JOTUN. RSG also collaborated with Tamkeen, a local NGO, to pass on sailboat building skills from local experts to young people in the area. This initiative aims to preserve ship restoration skills within the community.

Engineer Ahmad Darwish, RSG's Chief Administrative Officer, shared that the inspiration for this initiative came from Sheik Ameen Sanosi, a local fisherman passionate about traditional sailboats. "The inspiration for this initiative came from the heartfelt words of local fisherman Sheik Ameen Sanosi, whose deep passion for traditional sailboats sparked our commitment to restoring these special vessels," he stated. The event celebrated Saudi Arabia's maritime cultural heritage while embracing adventure and competition.

The sailing race included exciting competitions among local sailors vying for substantial cash prizes. Musad Sami al-Kabidi won first place with his Mabrouka Sailing Ship, earning SAR50,000. Ibrahim Abu Bakr's Uwaidan Sailing Ship secured second place with a prize of SAR30,000. Eid Sunusi Abu Bakr finished third with Sahala Sailing Ship, receiving SAR20,000. Other participants were awarded SAR5,000 each.

Spectators enjoyed a vibrant bazaar onshore that highlighted local arts and crafts alongside cultural performances celebrating regional heritage. "At Red Sea Global, our unwavering commitment to social development is reflected in a series of impactful initiatives that honor local heritage and foster community engagement," stated RSG in their release.

One notable project is Amerah Souq, which began as a pilot project offering farmers, craftsmen, and artists a platform to showcase their products while celebrating culture through musical performances and workshops. Another program is Tamala Farmers Cooperative which collaborates with around 3,000 local farms to create a sustainable food supply chain benefiting local businesses.

Tourism Developments

The Red Sea welcomed its first guests last year with three hotels now operational. Shebara and Desert Rock are set to open later this year while Shura Island plans to welcome guests by 2025. The Red Sea International Airport has been handling domestic flights since September 2023 and started international flights in April 2024 between The Red Sea and Dubai International twice weekly.

These developments highlight RSG's dedication to preserving cultural heritage while promoting tourism growth in Saudi Arabia. By fostering community engagement through various initiatives like the sailing race and Amerah Souq project along with sustainable practices such as Tamala Farmers Cooperative collaboration – RSG continues its mission towards regenerative tourism destinations.

With inputs from SPA