Red Sea Global Celebrates Saudi Arabia's Rich Maritime Heritage with Launch of the Red Sea Classic Sailing Race

Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, has issued a press release announcing the closing of the Red Sea Classic Sailing Race.
This “vibrant two-day event, held along the shores of Turtle Bay Village”, brought together residents from the local communities as well as visitors to The Red Sea destination to celebrate traditional sailboat racing and to honor the rich maritime heritage of the Red Sea region, according to the release.
The race showcased this year 11 “beautifully restored traditional sailboats”; it was made possible “through collaborative efforts, during the restoration phase, with the National Commission for Education, Science, and Culture, Oil Sustainability Program (OSP), and leading partner JOTUN”.
RSG also partnered with Tamkeen, a local NGO, to transfer the knowledge of building sailboats from local experts to young people from the nearby area, to ensure that the essential skills of ship restoration are preserved in the community.
RSG Chief Administrative Officer Engineer Ahmad Darwish said: "The inspiration for this initiative came from the heartfelt words of local fisherman Sheik Ameen Sanosi, whose deep passion for traditional sailboats sparked our commitment to restoring these special vessels. With the launch of the Red Sea Classic Sailing Race, we are reaffirming our dedication to upholding Saudi Arabia's maritime cultural heritage while celebrating the spirit of adventure and competition."
The event featured “thrilling races” involving local sailors competing for significant cash prizes, read the release.
Musad Sami al-Kabidi, owner of the Mabrouka Sailing Ship, won the first-place prize of SAR50,000. Ibrahim Abu Bakr, who owns Uwaidan Sailing Ship, claimed second place and earned SAR30,000. Eid Sunusi Abu Bakr, owner of Sahala Sailing Ship, finished third, taking home SAR20,000. All the other participants received a prize of SAR5,000 for their efforts.
Spectators enjoyed a lively bazaar onshore, showcasing local arts and crafts and cultural performances that celebrated the region's heritage.
“At Red Sea Global, our unwavering commitment to social development is reflected in a series of impactful initiatives that honor local heritage and foster community engagement,” read the release.
“One of our standout projects, Amerah Souq, started out as a pilot project, providing farmers, craftsmen, and artists a platform to showcase and sell different foods, merchandise, crafts, and other products while celebrating local culture through traditional musical performances and cultural heritage workshops,” it added.
Other programs “include the Farmers Cooperative we co-founded, named Tamala, which works with some 3,000 local farms to ensure that a sustainable supply food chain is created for the destination and that local businesses directly benefit too,” it said.
The Red Sea welcomed its first guests last year, with three of its hotels now open. Shebara and Desert Rock will welcome their first guests later this year, while Shura Island is on track to welcome guests in 2025.
The Red Sea International Airport, which is within three hours' flying time of 250 million people and eight hours' flying time for 8% of the world's population, has been receiving a regular schedule of domestic flights since September 2023. International flights began in April 2024, with a twice-weekly route between The Red Sea and Dubai International, said the release.