This week’s sustainability news highlights significant advancements in environmental stewardship across the Middle East. From the Red Sea Global’s achievements in regenerative tourism to ADNEC’s AI-driven sustainability initiatives and Jubail & Yanbu’s green certification, here’s what you missed.
Inside the Red Sea Global Annual Sustainability Report
Red Sea Global has released its fourth annual sustainability report, showcasing the project’s ongoing commitment to regenerative tourism. Aiming for a 30% net positive environmental impact by 2040, the report highlights significant milestones, including a 100% renewable energy operation in the first phase of The Red Sea destination, 150 electric charging stations, zero waste to landfill, and innovative coral reef restoration efforts.
Some of the achievements in the report include the installation of 760,000 photovoltaic solar panels to power the The Red Sea; sowing 600,000 mangrove seedlings by more than 200 volunteers; preventing 46,350 tons of CO2 emissions through carbon reduction initiatives; the recruitment of more than 3,300 new employees; and more than 5 million plants being added to the Red Sea Landscape Nursery.
ADNEC’s AI-driven sustainability initiatives
Launching their AI-drive energy optimisation project, ADNEC Group Abu Dhabi is aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2045, and reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030. Its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs have been recently been recognised by the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Environmental Award.
Its latest ESG report highlights more sustainability initiatives across venues, events, hotels, and other sectors, featuring innovative technologies like WasteMaster to process 4,000 kg of food waste per day, solar panel installations, and a 53% recycling rate.
RCJY’s green certification
The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) has earned international recognition with Yanbu Industrial City’s inclusion in the World Council on City Data (WCCD) Global Cities Registry. It has become the first city in Saudi Arabia to receive the ISO37123 certificate for Sustainable Cities and Communities.
RCJY is committed to enhancing the resilience, sustainability, and quality of life in its cities, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to ensure growth, prosperity, and adaptability to changes.
New sustainability criteria in the works for tourism food providers
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), with support from the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), is developing new international standards for sustainable tourism in the food service industry. The criteria will help restaurants and tourism food service providers manage their operations more sustainably, reduce costs, and safeguard ecosystems, biodiversity, as well as local economies.
The development process will be receive input from an advisory group and public consultations. Türkiye’s contribution builds on its success in implementing sustainable tourism practices and was the first country to enter into an agreement with the GSTC at the governmental level in 2022. A pilot certification program will test the feasibility of certifying restaurants using the GSTC criteria, aiming to reduce the industry’s negative environmental impacts, and support sustainable consumption and production patterns.
The GCC is chugging along sustainably
GCC countries are choo-choo-choosing to simplify travel, keeping it sustainable, social and affordable. The latest link in the works connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia and then the wider GCC railway network. Between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, progress has been made with planning and once complete developers will construct a 25km railway from Saudi’s Dammam to Bahrain’s Khalifa bin Salman Port. Once in Bahrain, the train will pass through Bahrain International Airport and Amwaj Island before travelling out to Qatar. Other areas of the rail network making progress are the links between Sohar, Oman and Abu Dhabi and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia which recently received approval for construction.
