Dubai: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched on Sunday a mega tourism project in Al Ula, including a resort designed by a renowned French architect and a nature reserve, called Sharaan.
The resort which will include residential estates, a summit center, a spa and restaurants, will be designed by Jean Nouvel, the French architect who designed Louvre Abu Dhabi.
It will be built in a valley deep inside the 925-square-kilometer Sharaan Nature Reserve.
The reserve will conserve and restore the region’s natural desert habitats, including the Arabian leopard, with the help of local rangers trained by international experts.
The resort and the reserve both take their names from the surrounding canyon with its ancient rock formations.
The resort’s construction is expected to begin in early 2020, and is expected to be completed in 2023.
Global Fund for the Arabian Leopard
Another project launched by the crown prince on the night was the Global Fund for the Arabian Leopard, which will enable Sharaan Nature Reserve, in addition to other sites, to become a suitable area for releasing and reintroducing the Arabian Leopard.
During the event, local park rangers trained by the Saudi Wildlife Authority together with the Mweka Wildlife College in Tanzania released 10 Nubian ibexes, 10 red-necked ostriches and 20 Idmi gazelles (mountain gazelle) into the reserve.
These species face numerous threats in the wild, and their numbers have been declining rapidly.
Governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, spoke during the ceremony in the Maraya Theater, amid hundreds of notable guests saying: “The beautiful canyon area of Sharaan is now a designated Nature Reserve, setting a new standard in the region for re-balancing ecosystems and reflecting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to protecting the natural environment of Al Ula.”
He added: “The Sharaan resort and natural reserves is set to generate a $32 billion increase in GDP, over two million visitors, and 38,000 jobs by 2035.”
A sound-and light-show and charter for Al Ula was also presented during the ceremony.
World Heritage site
Al-Ula is home to spectacular sandstone rock formations and home to the kingdom’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, Madain Saleh, built more than 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans.
