Soudah Development, the Saudi developer, has announced that is has signed up as a member of the Mountain Partnership, an alliance dedicated to protecting mountain environments around the world.
In a statement, the Saudi group said that it joins more than 400 global members comprising of governments, intergovernmental organisations, companies and civil society groups, in a commitment to improving the lives of local communities, preserving mountain ecosystems, and rich biodiversity.
The partnership’s Secretariat is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
Soudah is owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund and aims to lead the development of a luxury mountain tourism destination that will offer immersive cultural experiences and a celebration of the natural assets empowering the local and national economies.
“The Mountain Partnership has been working globally for over 20 years to ensure the social and economic well-being and livelihoods of mountain peoples as well as the protection of mountain areas,” remarked Rosalaura Romeo of the Mountain Partnership Secretariat.
“We are happy to be expanding in the region and look forward to collaborate with Soudah Development,” he added.
Soudah is the first developer from the Gulf region to join the Partnership that was established in 2002.
The partnership will allow Soudah to tap into an international wealth of experience and resources, as it develops a regulatory framework to preserve the environment and its cultural and human heritage, in conjunction with its luxury mountain ecotourism project.
Signing onto the Mountain Partnership will be the first of many environmental and sustainability-focused partnerships that the Saudi developer will take part in to achieve sustainable development, in line with those of the UN, foremost of which are environmental protection and combating climate change, said a top official.
“Soudah is very proud to be the first the developer in the Gulf region to become a member of the global Mountain Partnership. It demonstrates our ongoing commitment to create a truly unique mountain destination, where sustainable development is a focus in our strategy,” remarked its CEO Husameddin AlMadani.
“We look forward to collaborating with our new mountain partners and welcoming them here to Soudah in the future as we deliver on Kingdom’s vision for sustainable tourism and entertainment growth,” he added.
At a height of 3,015 m above sea level, the mountainous area in the Asir region is the highest point in the kingdom. It is set to become the mountain adventure capital of Saudi Arabia and the wider region, offering opportunities for hiking and exploration, paragliding and other adventurous outdoor activities in a serene setting.
Al Madani said the Mountain Partnership membership is fully aligned with the goals of Vision 2030 and the Green Saudi Initiative that has been actively embraced by Soudah has committed to undertaking a reforestation programme to plant over one million trees and plants by 2030, ultimately sequestering 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
“Joining the Mountain Partnership is a significant milestone for Soudah towards accomplishing its mission, as defined by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Chairman of the Soudah Development Board of Directors,” he stated.
The membership also allows the Saudi developer to reach out to prospective mountain developers and adventure tourism partners, who will recognize how the entity is embracing the same development values and quality standards as major mountain destinations worldwide, he added.
Srdan Susic, the Environment & Wildlife Director at Soudah, said: “This great partnership will allow us to share international best standards in excellence and governance, especially given how essential sustainability is in the kingdom’s vision for the future of global tourism and long-term economic diversification.”
“International partnerships of this nature are also important for helping to rebuild and strengthen the sector following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he concluded.