RIYADH — The Council of Ministers, chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, on Tuesday approved the Regulatory Arrangements of the Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA).

The Authority, chaired by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb will streamline regulation to enable the sustainable development of a ‘Red Sea Economy’ for the Kingdom.

The Authority’s mandate is to ensure a seamless tourist experience through regulation of marine tourism activities such as cruises and yachting, as well as enabling other recreational activities such as diving and sailing.

The SRSA’s activities will play an important role in stimulating the creation of a prosperous local tourism economy along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline, while preserving and protecting the sea’s pristine environment.

The Authority will be responsible for streamlining regulation to encourage investment, and job creation and provide support to small and medium sized enterprises engaged in marine recreational and tourism activities.

Welcoming Tuesday's announcement, Al Khateeb said: “The SRSA’s objective is to enable a thriving tourism economy throughout the Kingdom’s Red Sea coastline, with sustainability at its heart, in line with the Crown Prince’s guidance and vision.

“The Red Sea’s natural environment is one of our greatest assets. This will support our ambitious plans for tourism development, generate new job opportunities for Saudi citizens, and help us to attract international and domestic tourists, meeting our target of 100 million visitors by 2030.

“Stretching over 1,760-kilometer and situated between multiple countries, the Red Sea’s pristine coastline will make it a top destination within the Kingdom and is a key feature of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious sustainable development plans. The Red Sea’s offer of sun and sea tourism and the area’s ancient cultural heritage make it unique asset, ripe for investment.”

The SRSA will work together with a wide range of stakeholders to establish a mechanism to ensure that the marine activities taking part in its area of geographical focus are carried out sustainably, in order to safeguard the environment and wildlife that call the Red Sea home.

In time this role will expand to enforce compliance with environmental rules, in line with international best practice for the preservation of marine habitats. The SRSA will take action in cases where rules are breached.

By preserving the Red Sea’s natural environment, experts believe the area will have an even stronger appeal to attract cruise liners, yachting and other activities like diving and sailing.

Chaired by Al Khateeb, the board of the Saudi Red Sea Authority will comprise the minister of sports, the minister of culture, the mayor of Jeddah, representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Border Guard, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing, the Transport General Authority, the Saudi Tourism Authority, the Saudi Ports Authority, the Public Investment Fund, and the CEOs of NEOM Company and the Red Sea Development Company as well as a number of subject matter experts to ensure close coordination and collaboration.

The Red Sea is characterized by its stunning nature, unique heritage, and historical significance. Three out of Saudi’s six UNESCO World Heritage sites in the Kingdom are located in the Red Sea, in addition to many sites for practicing diving, sailing and kayaking. — SG