Travel
6 Mega Tourism Projects Being Built In The Middle East The tourism sector’s total contribution to the GDP of Middle Eastern countries could reach $486.1 billion by 2028, according to projections by Statista. As the same time, government spending on tourism in the region is expected to reach $17.7 billion. Here’s a look at some of the most important tourism projects currently under construction.
1. NEOM
2. Sulaibikhat Bay
Country: Saudi Arabia Investment value: $500 billion
Country: Kuwait Investment value: $5 billion
NEOM, meaning “new future,” is a 26,500 square kilometer project to create a new city in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea coast. It is one of Saudi’s Public Investment Fund’s major projects, with investments exceeding $500 billion in line with the kingdom’s Vision 2030. It aims to be the first city in the world to rely entirely on renewable energy and is expected to contribute $100 billion to Saudi’s GDP by 2030. In January 2021, the “The Line” city project was announced in NEOM, which will be a 170km belt of AI-enabled hyper-connected communities built around nature. In December 2021, the kingdom launched the Jeddah Central Development Project to develop 5.7 million square meters, with a total investment of $20 billion. F O R B E S M I D D L E E A S T.C O M
The 38-kilometer-long Sulaibikhat Bay stretches from the waterfront west of Kuwait City to Umm Al-Namel City. The project covers 23 square kilometers, with investments of $5 billion. Set for completion in 2023, it is developing the coast in Kuwait Bay, providing the area with recreational facilities, and adding a new tourist location in the country. The project is expected to improve the environment and provide 6,000 new housing units for Kuwaiti families, with more than 64,000 job opportunities in sectors related to innovation and up to 5,400 new hotel rooms. MARCH 2022
BY FOUZIA AZZAB; PHOTOS BY NEOM/ NEOM.COM, SULAIBIKHAT BAY/MGPCITY.COM, YETTI/ OMRAN, THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM/ ASHYCATINC COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG/ HATTA/ SHUTTERSTOCK, WEST BAY NORTH BEACH/ DISTANCE STUDIO CONSULTANTS (DSC) FACEBOOK
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