Arab News, Wednesday, Jan 05, 2022 | Jamada Al-Aakhirah 02, 1443
Soudah Development eyes 2 million annual visitors over 3,000 meters above sea level: Year in Review
Saudi Arabia:
It has been a busy year for Souda Development,
after the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund said that a new firm would turn the
mountain destination in the Asir region into a world-class luxury resort.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the
move on Feb. 24, which will see the Soudah Development spend SR11 billion ($3
billion) to boost tourism in Soudah and parts of Rijal Alma’a governorate.
The move is a key driver of the Kingdom’s Vision
2030 ambitions, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and reduce
reliance on oil.
Soudah mountain is the juniper- covered highest
peak in Saudi Arabia, over 3,000 meters above sea level, which attracts about 1
million visitors a year. But the company targets 2 million annual visitors, to
make the Soudah area an international tourist destination.
The company announced during the Green Saudi Green
Initiative in October that it would plant more than 1 million trees in Soudah
and parts of Rijal Alma’a within eight years, which aims to reduce carbon
emissions by 4 percent.
SD forecasts the attraction will contribute SR29
billion to the Saudi gross domestic product by 2030, it also expects to create
8,000 direct and indirect jobs by that time.
The firm signed a memorandum of understanding with
the Asir municipality in May to organize building permits and allow commercial
activities of all kinds. The deal also defined the areas proposed by the
municipality for investment.
The company announced during the Green Saudi Green
Initiative in October that it would plant more than 1 million trees in Soudah
and parts of Rijal Alma’a within eight years, which aims to reduce carbon
emissions by 4 percent. This will lift naturally protected areas to more than 30
percent of the Kingdom.
SD CEO Husameddin Al-Madani told Arab News at the
green summit that $3 billion would be spent on transport such as primary,
secondary and tertiary roads, with other invest ments going into energy and
microgrid projects.
The company announced a deal with the Swiss in
November to run scholarships for young people in Soudah and Rijal Alma’a to
study at Switzerland’s best culinary, hospitality and business management
schools.
The move will offer diplomas, undergraduate or
postgraduate courses at four of Switzerland’s top schools — The Swiss Hotel
Management School, Cesar Ritz Colleges Switzerland, the Culinary Arts Academy,
and the Hotel Institute Montreux.
Also, in November the SD became a member of the
UN’s Mountain Partnership, which aims to boost the sustainability of buildings
in the region.
The development company also became a key partner
in one of the world’s toughest endurance motorsports events, the 2022 Dakar
Rally, which takes place across the Saudi Arabian desert, to promote adventure
sports in the area.
The body finished the year strongly, by becoming
an affiliate member of the World Tourism Organization in December, allowing it
to work with more than 500 global companies, educational and research
institutions, resorts, and Nongovernmental organizations.
SD will release its masterplan in the first
quarter of 2022 after discussions with local and international investment
communities.
“We have started demolition and our site
preparation work on the ground in preparation for starting our large
construction program by April 2022,” said CEO, Al-Madani to Arab News in an
interview last year.
Next year, SD will release its masterplan in the
first quarter of 2022 after discussions with local and international investment
communities.
Just recently, the SD has been confirmed as an
official partner of the ongoing motorsport Dakar Rally 2022.
The partnership will see Soudah present
traditional live performances as part of the post-racing entertainment in camps
set up for participants, stakeholders, and the media.
Hundreds of riders, drivers and crew will
experience live traditional Asiri music and performances alongside the culture
of Soudah and Rijal Almaa after completing a tough day’s racing.
These performances will take place during the
Riyadh, Jeddah, Bisha and Ha’il stages of the rally.
The partnership, the company said, reflects its
commitment to “promoting the Soudah and Rijal Almaa region as a destination for
sports and adventure tourism,” as part of its wider goal to become a leading
luxury mountain destination.
Now in its 44th edition, the Dakar Rally is
organized by AOS in partnership with the Fédération Internationale de
l’Automobile (FIA), The Saudi Arabian Automobile and Motorcycle Federation as
well as other local authorities
More than 1,000 participants from 70 countries
aboard over 600 vehicles will travel across Hail, Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Asir
region as part of the race.
The Dakar Rally 2022 is the first sporting event
sponsored by Soudah Development since its launch last February.
“We have started demolition and our site
preparation work on the ground in preparation for starting our large
construction program by April 2022,” said CEO, Al-Madani to Arab News in an
interview.