Ziyad Al-Shiha, board member of the National Petrochemical Company

Ziyad Al-Shiha
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Updated 21 September 2020
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Ziyad Al-Shiha, board member of the National Petrochemical Company

  • Al-Shiha received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Ziyad Al-Shiha has been a board member of the National Petrochemical Company, a Saudi joint-stock company, since 2019. He is also the deputy chair of the Business 20 (B20) Trade and Investment Taskforce.
Formerly, Al-Shiha worked as the president and CEO of the Saudi Electricity Co. (SEC) from 2014 to 2018. Prior to that, he was a board member of the SEC from 2012 to 2103.
Al-Shiha received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, a master’s degree in engineering and control systems from Rice University, and another master’s degree in executive business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
During his keynote speech at the @World_FZO webinar recently, Al-Shiha talked about the work accomplished by the taskforce across key focus areas, underscoring the need to promoted sustainable trade.
He also spoke at the joint virtual event about ways to mitigate the fallout of global trade tensions and also provided a brief overview of the taskforce policy recommendations.
He has held a number of positions at Saudi Aramco since he joined the oil company in 1984. He served as an electrical engineer and was the vice president of general planning in one of the international joint ventures in the Philippines, of which he was a member of the board of directors.
At Aramco, he was also a public relations manager, the director of facilities planning and the executive director of power systems. Al-Shiha has participated in several leadership training programs, including the Sloan Fellowship Program of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

 


Red Sea Global unveils scientific model for regenerative tourism worldwide

Updated 26 February 2026
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Red Sea Global unveils scientific model for regenerative tourism worldwide

  • The report details the model’s rollout at “The Red Sea” and “AMAALA” destinations, backed by studies covering 8 marine habitats

TABUK: Red Sea Global (RSG) has unveiled a science-based model aimed at achieving a 30% net positive conservation benefit across its tourism destinations by 2040. 

The framework is now available for global adoption, according to a statement released by RSG.

Owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Red Sea Global is the multi-project developer behind ambitious regenerative tourism destinations like “The Red Sea” and “AMAALA.” 

As a cornerstone of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the company aims to diversify the national economy while setting new global benchmarks for sustainable, nature-positive development.

CEO John Pagano stated that openly sharing this detailed approach will help elevate the global tourism sector and secure a healthier environment for future generations.
 

Map showing the boundaries of the Red Sea Zone. (Graphic from the RSG report)

The cornerstone of this initiative is the proprietary SIIG Model, a four-step framework:
• Survey: Establish biodiversity baselines and monitor long-term changes.
• Identify: Assess risks to priority habitats and species.
• Intervene: Execute evidence-based actions, such as regulating fishing and enhancing natural habitats.
• Gain: Measure and verify biodiversity improvements.

The report details the model’s rollout at “The Red Sea” and “AMAALA” destinations, backed by extensive 2022–2023 environmental baseline studies covering eight marine habitats and priority species groups during 2022 and 2023. 

A major intervention is the 5,015-square-kilometer Fishery Management Area in Al-Wajh Lagoon. The plan reserves 38% of the area for priority conservation—protecting 62% of local coral reefs—while allocating 61% for sustainable fishing.

According to scientific modeling, eliminating fishing in high-protection zones could increase reef fish populations by 113%, sharks and rays by 72%, and marine mammals by 24%. These measures are expected to boost coral resilience, support ecosystem recovery, and protect vulnerable species like sea turtles and seabirds.
Ihab Kindi, RSG’s Red Sea Destination Executive Director, called the data-driven model a practical roadmap for large-scale marine recovery. The complete methodology is available in the new report, “The SIIG Model: A Roadmap Toward Achieving Measurable Conservation Gains.”