REGIONAL ROUNDFEATURE UP - KSA
RETAIL TOURISM IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
THE PAST, THE PRESENT & THE FUTURE
MOHAMMAD ALAWI
Partner & Chief Executive Officer Real Estate Development Solutions (REDS) Member - Tourism & Cultural Sector Council, Jeddah Chamber, Executive Committe Chairman Red Sea Markets Co. (Red Sea Mall)
A strategy think tank, with over 35 years of experience in creating successful developments and renovating existing retail properties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mohammad is a public Saudi figure on the retail scene. He moves ahead of his time by utilizing all the state-of-the-art resources to achieve his goals. Currently, Mohammad serves as the Chairman of the Board for Jeddah Central Markets, Member of the Tourism Cultural Sector Council - Jeddah Chamber, Chairman Leasing Committee for AWJ Holding, CEO and Partner of Real Estate Development Solutions (REDS) , Board Member for Azad Properties and Executive Committee Chairman at Red Sea Markets Co. (Red Sea Mall)
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reviously called the Arabian Peninsula, now lies a kingdom of trade, people and a long history of prosperity and resilience. Trade flourishes in this area since ancient times, even before Islam comes to the land of Saudi and even before Prophet Muhammad. In fact, it was mentioned in the Quran, a verse in the holy book of Quraish and Surah about a trip to the North during the summer and South to now Yemen, in the winter. It was called the famous trip of the winter and summer.
RETAIL PEOPLE . MAY - JUL 2022
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Traders venture this part of the world all the way to Syria, where it is used to be called Sham, and all the region to Palestine, Iraq and all other places going to Asia, Europe and Africa exchanging all manners of products. This is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - an intersection for the world, where millions arrive at marvelling souqs and bazaars akin to the ‘Grand Bazaars’ in Istanbul, Turkey, Damascus and Egypt. Today with its centre in Riyadh and Jeddah, it is the hub transit for retailers. Jeddah is the gate to access the two holy
