Red Sea Development Corporation, the developer of Saudi Arabia's large-scale Red Sea tourism project, has signed contracts with Saudi company Al Bawani and Swiss company Blumer Lehmann to help build luxury hotels and resorts.

Al Bawani was responsible for the civil and structural engineering of 40 hotel villas on the southern sand dunes site, including roads and utilities. Blumer Lehmann is responsible for the wood construction planning, manufacturing and supply engineering of a hotel on Ummahat Al Shaykh.

"The award of these contracts is very exciting. It marks the beginning of a new phase for us inland and the construction of an amazing resort on one of our main islands. We believe in Al Bawani and Blumer Lehmann. Will help turn our vision into reality." said John Pagano, CEO of TRSDC.

Al Bawani will build a staff dormitory at the Southern Dunes site, which can accommodate 700 employees during peak periods. For the Kengo Kuma-designed resort on Ummahat Al Shaykh, Swiss timber construction company Blumer Lehmann will provide engineered wood for the entire hotel, villa, spa and other buildings, and design and manufacture it on site in Switzerland.

Katharina Lehmann, owner and CEO of Blumer Lehmann, said: “Our off-site manufacturing method will help reduce waste and reduce the impact of on-site construction activities on people, such as noise, ground disturbance and vehicle movement. The Red Sea project is an unparalleled Destination, we are proud to be able to contribute to such an ambitious project."

TRSDC said that the "Red Sea Project" is expected to welcome the first group of guests by the end of 2022, when the international airport and the first four hotels will open. The remaining 12 hotels in the first phase of the plan will be held in 2023

Opened in 2016. The destination will be completed in 2030 and will include 50 resorts, providing up to 8,000 hotel rooms and approximately 1,300 residential properties on 22 islands and 6 inland areas. The destination will also include luxury marina, golf courses, entertainment and leisure facilities.Editor/Huang Lijun