Jeddah Central seals luxury cruise terminal design deal
RIYADH, July 26, 2022
Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC), the master developer of the Jeddah Central Project and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF), said it has signed a MoU with Cruise Saudi to design the new international luxury cruise terminal for the Jeddah Central Project development
A wholly-owned PIF company, Cruise Saudi is a specialist in cruise ecosystem development.
As per the deal, the duo will jointly work on the design for the cruise terminal as well as a marina coming up at Jeddah Central, a major move that will contribute immensely in transforming Jeddah’s coastline and help foster the growth and development of the Saudi marine tourism industry.
The Marina and Luxury Cruise is set to provide Jeddah residents and visitors with new ways to experience the coastal areas. Additionally, other beachside developments are underway, said the statement from JCDC.
The outputs of the memorandum will also strengthen Jeddah’s position as a multi-faceted maritime hub alongside other regional competitors, it stated.
The announcement reflects JCDC's ambition to strengthen partnerships with leading national developers, and commitment to establishing Jeddah as one of the region’s superyacht and luxury cruise destinations, said a top official.
"Jeddah’s proximity to the sea has greatly influenced its economic and cultural development over the years. JCDC's plan is to develop a world-class marina that includes a luxury cruise destination, as a continuation of this rich maritime legacy," remarked its CEO Engineer Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Sulaim.
"Our partnership with Cruise Saudi will help us accelerate our efforts as we work to diversify the Kingdom’s tourism and entertainment industries, which is a key PIF and Saudi Vision 2030 objective," he noted.
Cruise Saudi CEO Lars Clasen said: "This memorandum supports the efforts of Cruise Saudi in expanding beyond the scope of cruise services, and we look forward to working with JCDC. Together we will explore the myriad of opportunities the luxury cruise operations will enable within the Jeddah Central project, to provide the finest marine experience."
"This shall assist in both parties realising their aspirations, and reflect positively on the kingdom’s tourist experience," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
