Red Sea luxury development project AMAALA joins Monaco partners to protect marine environment

The Red Sea corals offer exceptional characteristics, in particular their resistance to environmental stresses, which will be interesting to explore with Saudi researchers. (AN file photo)
Updated 04 October 2019
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Red Sea luxury development project AMAALA joins Monaco partners to protect marine environment

  • The partnership is anchored around the three pillars of wellness and sports, art and culture and sun, sea and lifestyle

MONACO, RIYADH: AMAALA, the luxury development situated along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, signed a partnership agreement on Sept. 27 with The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Centre Scientifique de Monaco and Oceanographic Institute.

This follows a framework agreement signed last year at the Monaco Yacht Show to explore areas of mutual collaboration. The partners will work on oceanographic and marine life research and conservation initiatives to benefit the world’s oceans with four opportunities identified for joint projects: Coral reef management, iconic species protection, marine protected areas enforcement and fighting plastic pollution.

AMAALA CEO Nicholas Naples said: “We are very selective with whom we align, as is The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Their mission to raise awareness of the impact of human activities on the natural environment, encourage more environmentally friendly behavior and promote innovative solutions, makes the foundation a natural fit for us. We are committed to fully sustainable development throughout the design, build and operation phases, which includes being carbon neutral from the start of operations. We plan to create a coastal oasis that not only flourishes but a place that elevates the role of responsible tourism globally.”

H.E. Bernard Fautrier, vice president and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation said: “The impact of human activities on the ocean has been devastating, and through our partnership with AMAALA, we look to come together and raise awareness of that impact, integrating environment preservation and sustainability into the heart of the future. Monaco has long been committed to the environment, and we look forward to working alongside AMAALA to safeguard the biodiversity of the Red Sea, taking actions for future.”

We are very selective with whom we align, as is The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Nicolas Naples, AMAALA CEO

Professor Patrick Rampal of Centre Scientifique de Monaco added: “We are very pleased to have entered into this partnership with AMAALA, which will allow us to pursue innovative areas of research in a previously undiscovered location. 

“This project will allow us to collaboratively better understand the biology of corals in order to better protect their ecosystems. The Red Sea corals offer exceptional characteristics, in particular their resistance to environmental stresses, which will be interesting to explore with Saudi researchers.”

This event marks the first partnership for AMAALA, which is anchored around the three pillars of wellness and sports, art and culture and sun, sea and lifestyle. 

The signing was the culmination of participation in the Monaco Yacht Show, where AMAALA also hosted its inaugural advisory board meeting. AMAALA, who participated in the third Monte Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean, welcomed board members and select guests to the celebration. 

This major fundraising event gathers international artists and philanthropists for an exclusive gala in favor of the foundation’s worldwide initiatives dedicated to a sustainable ocean. Veteran champion for climate change action Robert Redford was honored for his global environmental contributions.


The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State

Updated 23 February 2026
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The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State

  • The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula

RIYADH: The economy during the founding stage of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability. This early economic growth was inextricably linked to achieving security, unifying regions, and organizing society—factors that directly stimulated trade, stabilized markets, and enhanced the foundations of daily life in Diriyah and its surrounding areas.
According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen's "Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State," published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the founding economy stands as a historical model reflecting the reciprocal relationship between political stability and early economic prosperity.

Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. (SPA)

The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.
Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its active markets attracted merchants and students from across the region, all of whom benefited from the state-provided stability. The local society relied on diverse activities for its livelihood, including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.
The social and administrative organization upon which the state was founded ensured the continuous availability of goods and sustained market stability. Ultimately, the close relationship between public security and economic growth during this founding phase solidified Diriyah's position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula.