Golf Saudi and Atlas Turf launch JV to develop turf farm in Saudi Arabia
The JV company will offer climatically adapted turf to regional customers starting with Platinum TE Paspalum
Golf Saudi has announced a joint venture (JV) with Atlas Turf International. The JV will see the firms develop the region’s first internationally licensed golf and sports turf farm in the Kingdom, which will provide a selection of turfgrasses to customers in the Middle East.
The announcement was made by Golf Saudi after it received the foreign investment license from the Ministry of Investment (MISA), and commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce for the JV company – Atlas Turf Arabian Agricultural Company, the statement explained.
As per the terms of the deal, Atlas Turf Arabia will develop and distribute what is billed as some of the world’s most climatically adapted turf species throughout Saudi Arabia, starting with Platinum TE Paspalum, with Bermudagrass and Zoysia to follow in due course.
“Golf Saudi is committed to not only securing the very best turf solutions for its own needs but to also do so by the most socially and environmentally conscious means possible. By owning and operating our very own state-of-the-art turf farm, via Atlas Turf Arabia, means that we are able to not only source product sustainably but also create new job opportunities for Saudi Nationals to operate the site locally, which is a key objective of Golf Saudi’s Social Agenda,” said Golf Saudi CEO Majed Al Sorour.
He noted that the new company will serve as a vital link in the supply chain framework in Saudi Arabia, fulfilling the objectives of Vision 2030, by providing access to turf grass solutions for Saudi-based organisations who require it.
By offering sustainable turf solutions to projects outside of golf, including other sports federations and organisations, as well as infrastructure and landscaping projects, Atlas Turf Arabia will continue to add further employees to its overall headcount in the months and years ahead. Several of the leading golf and landscaping projects in Saudi Arabia have secured their grass supply from Atlas Turf Arabia and the turf farm will harvest the first order of turf in Q4 2021, the statement added.
Atlas Turf International president John Holmes commented, “The establishment of Atlas Turf Arabia and the opening of our first turf farm in Saudi Arabia is the culmination of our mission to provide high quality, sustainable solutions for turfgrass projects worldwide. We are incredibly proud to play our part in not only working with new customers and supplying unique projects across the Middle East but to also create a positive and long-lasting legacy through the creation of new jobs and training opportunities for Saudi citizens.”
This is just the first step in Atlas Turf Arabia’s journey to create a regional team capable of achieving its long-term, sustainable vision for the future of turfgrasses, not just in golf but other unique projects too, Holmes remarked.
He concluded, “The research and development will form a cornerstone of the turf farm’s operations with Atlas Turf Arabia looking to utilise modern scientific practice to further develop a range of saline and drought resistant turf grasses, which can also survive and grow in arid conditions and high temperatures.”
