Sustainable Construction Airports
Red Sea Global Prioritized Sustainability in its Airport
Colin Smith — July 24, 2025
Red Sea International Airport (RSI) serves as the dedicated gateway to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea resorts, commencing domestic operations in September 2023 and launching international services in April 2024. Developed by Red Sea Global (RSG) in collaboration with daa International as operator and Saudi Ground Services for ground handling, the facility employs a decentralized five-node terminal design to streamline passenger flow and minimize walking distances. Positioned to connect up to 250 million people within a three-hour flight radius and 85% of the world’s population within eight hours, RSI integrates hotel baggage delivery and private terminal pods to enhance the guest experience while maintaining a capped annual traffic volume aligned with environmental capacity studies.
Sustainability underpins every aspect of RSI’s development and operations. The terminal is engineered for LEED Platinum certification, featuring solar-powered energy generation and infrastructure to support 100% renewable electricity on site. In February 2025, RSI became the first airport in Saudi Arabia to offer a 35% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), supplied through a partnership with Neste and distributed via Arabian Petroleum Supply Company. Additionally, RSG’s environmental commitments extend beyond aviation, including mangrove restoration and marine conservation programs covering 99% of the project’s land area. By embedding renewable energy, SAF availability, and regenerative development practices, RSI exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives to balance luxury tourism growth with rigorous environmental stewardship.
