The Saudi Red Sea Authority has issued the Kingdom’s first beach operator licence, awarding it to Emaar, The Economic City for Yam Beach in King Abdullah Economic City. The licence was granted on Monday, October 12, through a unified coastal tourism platform. It is the first to be issued under the Beach Operators’ Requirements and Conditions, which the authority introduced in late 2025. The Saudi Press Agency announced the award from Jeddah.
The framework sets out how private companies may run beaches and visitor facilities along the Saudi coast. It covers licensing, operating standards, visitor safety and environmental protection. Until now, the Kingdom has had no formal licensing route of this kind for beach operators, and the first award gives the private sector a working model for future applications along the Red Sea shoreline.
Under the rules, licensed operators must provide essential facilities and services, and make beaches accessible to people with disabilities. They must keep certified lifeguards on duty during operating hours, mark swimming areas that are separate from zones used for marine activities, and prepare safety and emergency evacuation plans. Environmental conditions include waste management, regular monitoring of water and sand quality, and protection of marine habitats and wildlife. Taken together, the conditions are meant to give visitors a consistent standard of safety and service from one licensed beach to the next, whichever company runs it.
The licence came out of coordination between the Saudi Red Sea Authority, the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority, which oversees King Abdullah Economic City, and private sector partners. The authorities said the cooperation aims to raise beach readiness and service standards, and to attract both domestic and international visitors to Saudi coastal destinations. Neither the authority nor Emaar disclosed fees, investment figures or an opening timetable for services under the new licence.
The Saudi Red Sea Authority was set up to regulate and support coastal and marine tourism, with a focus on drawing private investment, broadening the range of tourism experiences and creating jobs under Vision 2030. Beach tourism is a large part of that plan, and a clear set of operating standards is likely to matter to developers and hotel groups weighing projects on the coast. With the first licence now issued, other operators along the Red Sea have a defined process to follow.
