I 6 Mega Tourism Projects Being Built In The Middle East

The tourism sector’s total contribution to the GDP of Middle Eastern countries could reach $486.1 billion by 2028, according to projections by Statista. As the same time, government spending on tourism in the region is expected to reach $17.7 billion. Here’s a look at some of the most important tourism projects currently under construction.

Country: Saudi Arabia Investment value: $500 billion

NEOM, meaning “new future,” is a 26,500 square kilometer project to create a new city in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea coast. It is one of Saudi’s Public Investment Fund’s major projects, with investments exceeding $500 billion in line with the kingdom’s Vision 2030. It aims to be the first city in the world to rely entirely on renewable energy and is expected to contribute $100 billion to Saudi’s GDP by 2030. In January 2021, the “The Line” city project was announced in NEOM, which will be a 170km belt of AI-enabled hyper-connected communities built around nature. In December 2021, the kingdom launched the Jeddah Central Development Project to develop 5.7 million square meters, with a total investment of $20 billion.

Country: Kuwait Investment value: $5 billion

The 38-kilometer-long Sulaibikhat Bay stretches from the waterfront west of Kuwait City to Umm Al-Namel City. The project covers 23 square kilometers, with investments of $5 billion. Set for completion in 2023, it is developing the coast in Kuwait Bay, providing the area with recreational facilities, and adding a new tourist location in the country. The project is expected to improve the environment and provide 6,000 new housing units for Kuwaiti families, with more than 64,000 job opportunities in sectors related to innovation and up to 5,400 new hotel rooms.

Country: Oman Investment value: $1 billion

The Yetti Integrated Development project extends over 11 square kilometers in the capital of Muscat, on the Arabian Sea. In January 2022, the Omran Group and Diamond Real Estate Development Company signed a partnership agreement for the first phase of the project, with an investment value of $1 billion. A joint venture, the Sustainable Development and Investment Company, has been established to carry out its execution. The first phase, covering 900,000 square meters, is expected to create 900 direct and indirect jobs. It will construct fully sustainable mixed-use facilities, such as green public spaces, residences, commercial and educational facilities, and lifestyle areas, including restaurants, cafés, and an equestrian center.

Country: Egypt Investment value: $1 billion

The Grand Egyptian Museum is located west of Cairo, near the Giza Pyramids. When complete, it will be the largest archaeological museum in the world, covering an area of 500,000 meters. It will contain more than 100,000 artifacts from the Pharaonic, Greek, and Roman eras and is expected to welcome more than five million visitors annually. The cost of building the museum is estimated to be $1 billion. Construction began in May 2005. As of February 2022, more than 55,000 artifacts had been transferred and restored, all of the heavy pieces had been installed, and more than 80% of the Tutankhamun collection had been displayed, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities’ website.

Country: U.A.E. Investment value: Undisclosed The Hatta development plan was announced in 2016, and in August 2021, six new projects were approved within it. The plan includes a 504-kilometer network of chairlifts across the mountains with a summit station and panoramic viewing platform, sustainable waterfalls, a hotel, and hiking trails across Jebel Umm Al Nisour, the highest peak in Dubai.

The number of visitors to Hatta hit more than a million in 2020, up from 60,000 in 2016. As part of the development, Hatta residents will be allowed to build 200 holiday homes, providing an annual income of more than $27.2 million for the people of the region, according to the Government of Dubai’s media office.

Country: Qatar Investment value: Undisclosed Located in the business district of Doha, the West Bay North Beach project encompasses a public beach and 12 private beaches operated by a number of hotels, covering an area of 60,200 square meters and 1.5 kilometers of coastline.

The project began in August 2020 and is set to open for the public in August 2022. It includes a park for sports and a celebration area to be used as a fan zone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.