Supporting Vision 2030
Executive Summary
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is reshaping the built environment at a scale rarely seen. From regenerative coastal resorts to wellness destinations and immersive tourism experiences that combine nature and culture, water-led architecture is becoming central to the Kingdom’s transformation. While water in the built environment presents remarkable opportunities, it also poses significant challenges in balancing sustainability and conservation with tourism and commercial goals.
At Oceanis, our work integrates technical precision beneath the surface so that water and the built elements interfacing with it becomes assets of sustainability and value. Below we summarise the drivers of growth in aquatic infrastructure and highlight practical insights, and describe how thoughtful early-stage engineering can complement water-led architecture and significantly enhance asset value and operational performance.
1. Saudi Green Initiative: Engineering Sustainable Tourism
Why it matters:
Since its inception in 2021, the Saudi Green Initiative has spearheaded 86 initiatives and programs, backed by investments exceeding USD 190 billion across various green economy sectors. The initiative’s three core targets — emissions reduction, afforestation, and land and sea protection — are fundamentally reshaping how aquatic infrastructure is being designed in Saudi Arabia.
Management takeaway:
Under the SGI, Saudi developments demand aquatic systems that seamlessly integrate high-quality tourism amenities and conservation applications. Water efficient or closed loop technologies which can be adapted for applications as diverse as coral nurseries, swimming pools, lagoons or wetlands, thermal management systems that stabilize conditions for marine life and guest pools, and creative approaches to guests’ experiences that enhance marine and aquatic environments, are just some initiatives.
2. Tourism Infrastructure: Building for 150 Million Visitors
Why it matters:
The tourism sector is undergoing a noticeable transformation, with leisure and business travel now fueling much of the Kingdom’s inbound growth, from NEOM and the Red Sea to Diriyah and AlUla.
Aquatic assets form centrepiece attractions, where design intent must meet the operational reality of large-scale visitation.
Management takeaway:
Close collaboration between aquatic specialists and conventional design teams during early project stages adds significant value by introducing innovative ideas and specialist engineering from the outset of any project.
3. Wellness Tourism: Saudi Arabia’s Rich Natural Environment
Why it matters:
Wellness tourism is a key focus of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for economic diversification, as the country aims to leverage its rich natural environments, cultural heritage, and strategic location to become a global wellness destination.
Management takeaway:
High-performance aquatic and thermal wellness experiences depend heavily on meticulous engineering beneath the surface.
Clever engineering not only enhances guest satisfaction but also significantly extends the life and reliability of facilities and minimises environmental impact.
Feature:
Breathing life into water-led architecture, without compromising design intent and supporting Vision 2030
In Saudi Arabia’s visionary developments, water is often the first visual anchor. It’s the signature element that defines a project’s positioning and experience.
For architects and developers working within Vision 2030’s framework, however, water is an aspect which is technically challenging, environmentally risky, and costly to manage well.
At Oceanis, we work in collaboration with architects to help push the boundaries of form and experience. Our teams integrate early with architecture to bring aquatic projects to life: “inside out” aquariums, stunning pools and aquatic centres, marine oriented tourism experiences and conservation initiatives.
Why it matters
As Vision 2030 accelerates, water-led design is becoming a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s sustainable development. By approaching aquatic assets as engineered systems not just decorative elements, architects can reduce risk, preserve design ambition, and deliver projects that create lasting cultural, environmental, and economic value.
Marine Research & Resorts: Lessons Across Sectors
In the Middle East, our projects directly support the Saudi Green Initiative’s commitment to protecting 30% of the Kingdom’s marine areas by 2030. These projects demand a level of innovation that translates perfectly to tourism and leisure environments: designs that safeguard ecosystems while delivering immersive guest experiences, thermal control in some cases suited to sensitive aquatic species, and in other cases requiring highly-energy efficient operation minimising environmental impact and operations costs, and materials engineered to withstand corrosive environments across decades of operation.
If you’re scoping aquatic assets in the Middle East
Get in touch with Oceanis
Oceanis partners with architects and developers across the Middle East to integrate specialist water systems into architecturally ambitious projects — tourism, leisure, aquaculture, environmental restoration, and marine research alike.
With our team maintaining a regular presence in the region, this is a timely moment to explore where our work and yours may intersect.
If a brief technical review or exploratory discussion would be valuable for your current concept, we would be glad to connect.