��������

RIYADH: When John Pagano, the CEO of Red Sea Global, was recently granted Saudi citizenship, it was not just a personal recognition, but also a symbolic milestone in the Kingdom’s journey of transformation under Vision 2030.

For the man leading one of the biggest luxury tourism developments in the world, the honor was deeply personal.

“I was honored to have been granted Saudi citizenship, and I’m grateful to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Salman, and of course, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for bestowing this honor upon me,” Pagano said.

Appearing on the Arab News current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Pagano discussed the timeline for the Kingdom’s planned resorts, described what it is like working with the Saudi crown prince, and reflected on his adopted nationality.

“I’ve lived in �������� now for almost eight years,” he told “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen.

“I’ve grown to love the country, the people, and to be part of the transformation of this Kingdom, and now to be part of that transformation as a Saudi citizen is an immensely proud moment for me.”

Since the announcement, Pagano said the reaction from ordinary Saudis has been overwhelmingly warm.

“The Saudi people are incredibly hospitable and they’ve always been warm and welcoming, but I was overwhelmed by the number of congratulatory messages that I received upon the formal announcement of my Saudi citizenship.

“They’ve embraced me. They make me feel at home. I feel now part of society here and I’m absolutely thrilled with it.”

Red Sea Global, formerly known as The Red Sea Development Company, is behind the flagship giga-projects driving ��������’s Vision 2030 — the national plan to diversify the economy away from oil by investing in sustainable industries such as tourism, culture, and technology.

The company is spearheading the Red Sea and Amaala — two vast luxury tourism destinations being built along the Kingdom’s western coastline. Together, they span thousands of square kilometers of islands, coral reefs, and volcanic landscapes.

The Red Sea is designed to run on 100 percent renewable energy and maintains strict environmental limits — only about 22 of the islands will be developed, with visitor numbers capped to preserve ecosystems.

Amaala, meanwhile, located farther north, focuses on wellness, art, and sustainability, combining luxury resorts with marine conservation and holistic health experiences.

Pagano said both projects are now nearing completion. “We have two major projects that are being developed. We have the Red Sea and Amaala, as you’ve said. And I’m happy to say that we’re now at the tail end of that development process,” he said.

“In total, between the two destinations, we have 27 hotels and resorts. To date, we’ve opened nine. By the end of the year, we will open 12. By January, that’ll be 17. And by April, May time, all 27 resorts and hotels will be open.”

An entirely new international airport already serves the region, “currently achieving 16 flights a week,” Pagano added, with numbers expected to grow as the destination expands.

Development has been carefully phased, allowing the company to fine tune logistics and operations.

“It has been a phased opening, which has been absolutely brilliant for us because it has allowed us to really develop our operating procedures and adapt to the dynamics and the changes that new openings are bringing to us,” he said.

In total, Pagano said, “we’re going to develop 80 hotels and resorts across the two projects.”

Few global CEOs work as closely with a head of state as Pagano does with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Red Sea Global chief describes his interactions as inspiring and detail driven.

“I’m fortunate enough to have regular interactions with his royal highness,” he said. “He is very detail oriented. We present all of the designs before we actually select one. He’s very meticulous in that. And he drives us to achieve better, to come up with unique designs.”

That insistence on creativity and ambition, Pagano said, has shaped the very identity of the projects. “What you’re seeing being realized … (are destinations that are) not only beautiful, but they’re super unique. They’re unique globally.”

He credits the crown prince’s leadership for pushing his team to go beyond the conventional. 

“We know they’re not the most cost-effective solutions, but they are the most dramatic and have attracted global attention, which was the original intention under Vision 2030, to put �������� on the global tourism map.”

Pagano said he has “never experienced this in my life where the future sovereign of the country is so deeply involved in the details of really driving home Vision 2030 … and the creation of unique designs that are going to be instantly recognizable as being ��������n.”

For Pagano, there is no doubt that �������� can rival destinations such as the Maldives or Egypt.

“Absolutely. Look, I think we have a beautiful country with diverse geography, topography. I was really surprised when I first visited back in 2017 … I had no idea that we had pristine islands and coral reefs and turquoise water. So we have the right ingredients.”

The Red Sea’s natural diversity, he said, is complemented by “the rich culture and history of ��������” and “the warmth of the Saudi people, the hospitality that comes naturally to them.”

What sets �������� apart, Pagano said, is its regenerative development approach — a model designed to improve the natural environment rather than simply minimize damage.

“We have a rare situation here where we have a pristine coastline that hasn’t been previously developed. So we’re developing in a much more responsible manner. And I think global travelers are going to … resonate well with (that) because they’re looking for sustainable destinations to come and visit.

“This is going to be a bucket-list destination,” he added. “I’m absolutely certain of that fact.”

Few developments have claimed to balance luxury and environmental protection as rigorously as Red Sea Global. The company’s commitment to regenerative tourism — tourism that leaves nature better than it was found — underpins every design choice.

“At the very beginning of our journey, we put nature at the forefront of our value proposition,” Pagano said. “We were inspired by nature, but we were ultimately led by science.”

Before any construction began, his team brought in scientists to conduct extensive baseline surveys and marine spatial simulations to determine where and how to build responsibly.

“We undertook this marine spatial planning simulation, which actually studied all of the islands, all of the marine ecosystem, the land and the terrestrial systems … with the aim of not just simply maintaining the status quo but actually increasing the net conservation value of our destination.”

The project integrates advanced monitoring systems, using “sensors in the water, air monitoring, … artificial intelligence and machine learning, to constantly monitor in real time what’s happening on the ground in the sea.”

Pagano recounted one example of putting nature before profit. “One of our islands … would have been a perfect destination for us to develop, but it was a favored nesting site of the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle.

“We chose not to develop the island. That’s an example of how we put nature and the environment ahead of profit.”

While early media coverage and celebrity visitors have given the impression of exclusivity, Pagano said the new developments will be open to a broad range of travelers.

“Absolutely not a destination only for the elite,” he said. “Yes, the first resorts that we did open (were) … in our ultra luxury category. However, they only represent a mere 10 percent of the total number of hotel rooms.”

When the Shura Island development opens, “our entry level is going to be around the $500 mark, which puts it well in reach of many, many people,” he said.

“Forty percent will be four star, 50 percent will be five. And as I said, 10 will be in that ultra luxury space. So it will be accessible to the masses.”

Pagano’s goal is to make the Red Sea not only a global symbol of luxury and sustainability but also a source of national pride and employment.

“We have a huge Saudi workforce that supports us, and I love watching the pride in the Saudi staff showcasing their country to the world,” he said. “I love the pride that the Saudis have in what’s being developed in their country.”

For Pagano, that pride — among workers, guests, and citizens — is the truest measure of success. “I get a great sense of pride when I see these destinations come to life, when they’re animated with people enjoying the beauty of the Red Sea.”