NEOM, KAUST join hands to build world’s largest coral garden

NEOM and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) joined hands to build the world’s largest coral garden in Shusha Island, which is located on the shores of the Red Sea in NEOM and covers an area of 100 hectares.

The island, which was called “Shusha Island Coral Park”, will become a global center to showcase innovations and efforts to protect and restore coral reefs and accelerate conservation solutions in light of the consequences of climate change, and this project is scheduled to be completed in 2025, through which NEOM will become a world leader in the field of coral restoration and coral reef development.

“We work within an integrated system to preserve the environment and all its components, and we seek to preserve coral reefs in particular and marine life in general, and this is one of the environmental goals that we are working to achieve, and our cooperation shows With KAUST, this is an important dimension of these efforts,” Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said.

He stressed the pursuit, through advanced technologies and joint experiences, to work to enhance the scientific community’s understanding of the way coral reefs adapt to climate change, in addition to searching for innovative solutions to preserve coral reefs in the Red Sea.

On the other hand, KAUST has pioneering research in the field of the Red Sea environment, and this promising project with NEOM is one of the largest technology transfer deals in KAUST history using great innovations emerging at KAUST, President Tony Chan said.

“We look forward to working alongside NEOM to improve our lives Through science and technology,” Chan added.

Shusha Island in the Red Sea is home to more than 300 species of coral and 1,000 species of fish, and the coral garden will provide a unique opportunity for research and development with the aim of preserving coral reefs and attracting scientists, researchers and eco-friendly tourism lovers, Chan explained.

NEOM will use Maritechture technology, developed by scientists from the Red Sea Research Center and the Coastal and Marine Resources Laboratory at KAUST, first on the beach reefs and then the coral gardens surrounding the island.

The project will enable NEOM to be a new tourism icon, as it is a future destination of a global nature, as the island of Shusha reflects NEOM’s bold ambition towards developing marine tourism based on innovation to protect and grow marine organisms in the Red Sea.