Saudi Arabia Launches First National Cruise Ship Framework To Boost Red Sea Tourism And Marine Sustainability
The comprehensive set of guidelines aims to guarantee the safety, security, and quality of the tourist experience from embarkation to return.
The strategic move actively supports Saudi Arabia's rapid tourism transformation and its ambition to become a leading global maritime destination.
The new guidelines meticulously define the responsibilities and roles of ship operators, shipping agents, and ports.
They streamline the process for obtaining necessary licences and permits, integrating technical and operational requirements to foster confidence among both investors and consumers.
Safety remains a core priority, with requirements for emergency plans, regular crew training aligned with international standards, and guaranteed availability of safety equipment, first aid, and qualified medical staff on board.
The new framework includes strict environmental protection provisions designed to mitigate marine pollution.
Cruise ships must implement integrated waste management plans, undertake wastewater treatment, and adhere to a zero-discharge policy for waste into the sea.
Compliance with leading international agreements like MARPOL and SOLAS is mandatory, ensuring the preservation of the Red Sea's marine environment as a valuable national heritage.
Furthermore, the provisions heavily emphasize the tourist experience, requiring service providers at ports and on ships to offer high-quality transportation, reception, information, entertainment, and catering.
They establish clear standards for tourist comfort and rights, including robust complaint handling procedures and effective management of itinerary changes, ensuring reliability and attentiveness throughout the journey.
The strategic shift solidifies Saudi Arabia's position as a premier global cruise destination, where effective oversight, a clear vision, and sustainability seamlessly align.
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Gulf Insider
11-07-2025
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Launches First National Cruise Ship Framework To Boost Red Sea Tourism And Marine Sustainability
The Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) unveiled Saudi Arabia's first-ever framework for cruise-ship operations. The comprehensive set of guidelines aims to guarantee the safety, security, and quality of the tourist experience from embarkation to return. The strategic move actively supports Saudi Arabia's rapid tourism transformation and its ambition to become a leading global maritime destination. The new guidelines meticulously define the responsibilities and roles of ship operators, shipping agents, and ports. They streamline the process for obtaining necessary licences and permits, integrating technical and operational requirements to foster confidence among both investors and consumers. Safety remains a core priority, with requirements for emergency plans, regular crew training aligned with international standards, and guaranteed availability of safety equipment, first aid, and qualified medical staff on board. The new framework includes strict environmental protection provisions designed to mitigate marine pollution. Cruise ships must implement integrated waste management plans, undertake wastewater treatment, and adhere to a zero-discharge policy for waste into the sea. Compliance with leading international agreements like MARPOL and SOLAS is mandatory, ensuring the preservation of the Red Sea's marine environment as a valuable national heritage. Furthermore, the provisions heavily emphasize the tourist experience, requiring service providers at ports and on ships to offer high-quality transportation, reception, information, entertainment, and catering. They establish clear standards for tourist comfort and rights, including robust complaint handling procedures and effective management of itinerary changes, ensuring reliability and attentiveness throughout the journey. The strategic shift solidifies Saudi Arabia's position as a premier global cruise destination, where effective oversight, a clear vision, and sustainability seamlessly align.
Trade Arabia
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Top shipbuilder Fincantieri seals Red Sea Authority deal
Fincantieri, one of the world's leading shipbuilding groups, has announced that it has signed a MoU with the Saudi Red Sea Authority, the official regulatory body of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for coastal tourism in the Red Sea. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Fincantieri's expansion in the Kingdom and reinforces its commitment to sustainable growth in the Red Sea ecosystem, said the company in a statement. By consolidating its position in the rapidly expanding Saudi maritime market, Fincantieri sees tremendous potential for future growth and collaboration with local stakeholders across the civilian and military sectors, establishing itself as a trusted partner, it stated. Signed today (May 22) in Riyadh by Fincantieri's CEO and General Manager, Pierroberto Folgiero, and SRSA's CEO, Mohammed Al-Nasser, the agreement looks to explore collaborative opportunities in the development and management of maritime and coastal activities in the Red Sea region. Opportunities include the construction of luxury cruise ships, as well as the development of state-of-the-art maritime and tourist port facilities that cater to the growing demand for high-quality, sustainable infrastructure, it stated. On the Red Sea Authority collaboration, Folgiero said the partnership marks an exciting new chapter in Fincantieri's expansion in the region. "By combining our commercial strength, our expertise in shipbuilding, and our experience in designing and implementing underwater infrastructure and technologies with the forward-looking goals of the Saudi Red Sea Authority, we aim to contribute to the development of the Red Sea Region," he stated. "Our ambition is to help it become one of the world's top tourist destinations while ensuring the protection of its unique natural heritage, both above and below the sea surface," he added.
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Saudi Red Sea Authority takes key steps to boost yacht tourism
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