54 worked in tandem with Red Sea Global (RSG) and the local community to stage a spectacular celebration of Saudi sailing and maritime heritage, in the Red Sea Classic Sailing Race along the shores of Umluj near to The Red Sea destination.

Crowds flocked to watch the classic dhow boats in action, 11 of which had been lovingly restored by local craftsmen, as competitive racing returned to the shores of the stunning resort.

54’s event management experts built a Cultural Village to highlight the treasured skills and craftsmanship of communities, featuring a sailboat museum, traditional food booths and cultural activations, local performances and a VIP hospitality section, with over 800 guests attending Red Sea Global’s stunning Social Development initiative which spanned two days on the shores of Turtle Bay.

The media room also hosted top tier press as it was revealed that the AMAALA destination, also developed by RSG, would host the finale of the 15th edition of The Ocean Race in 2027. 

Red Sea Global worked with NGOs and partner JOTUN to help with the restoration of the 11 dhows which competed in the regatta and collaborated with community group Tamkeen to ensure some of the skills are passed on to younger people. 

54 KSA CEO Almamoun Alshingiti said: “Saudi Arabia is rightly proud of its sailing and boatbuilding heritage, and the Red Sea Classic Sailing Race was a celebration of this history in every sense. Racing, history, entertainment, and education formed the backbone of this event and we were honoured to be trusted to execute such a special occasion.

“The fact we brought together such a compelling set of activations which sensitively showcased the remarkable skills and craftsmanship of this local community was athrill to see come to fruition.“ 

The Red Sea destination is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and a key development along the Kingdom’s coastline between Umluj and Al-Wajh. It welcomed its first guests last year, with four of its hotels now open.

Sport will play a pivotal role in Red Sea Global’s long-term vision, integrating seamlessly with the destination's phased development, which includes 16 iconic resorts and an international airport in phase one, set to open throughout 2024and 2025. By 2030, the destination will feature 50 hotels, 8,000 rooms, and sports offerings designed to complement the natural environment, ensuring sustainable tourism for up to one million visitors annually.