Saudi’s Shura Island Resorts Earn Global ‘Platinum’ Certification

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is still working toward comprehensive sustainability to raise the standard of living for its people and enhance its position as one of the world’s top countries in various areas, most notably the environmental sector, which is a key component of sustainable development.

Five resorts on Shura Island have earned LEED Platinum certification, a true testament to the Kingdom’s dedication to sustainable tourism. In the LEED v4 BD+C: Hospitality global green building rating system, this is the highest rating.

LEED Platinum Certification for Shura Island Resorts

Five resorts on Shura Island have obtained LEED Platinum certification after meeting the authorised green building standards under the LEED v4 BD+C: Hospitality system:

• Red Sea Edition Resort
• InterContinental Red Sea Resort
• SLS Red Sea Resort
• Four Seasons Resort & Residences Red Sea
• Miraval Red Sea Resort

As a result, the Red Sea location now has ten hotels and resorts with LEED Platinum certification, demonstrating their dedication to sustainability. Approximately 1,207 rooms and suites, totalling more than 236,000 square metres, make up these resorts.

Besides, this accomplishment demonstrates the resort’s commitment to sustainability. Likewise, the resorts adhere to the LEED system’s environmental sustainability standards, and the main components that helped them become certified are as follows:

• Dependency on sustainable energy.
• The application of extremely effective energy-saving engineering solutions.
• Using environmentally friendly, sustainable building materials.
• Using cutting-edge operating systems to improve environmental performance.
• Improving indoor environmental quality and reducing the project’s potential environmental impact.

What is LEED Platinum Certification?

One of the most popular green building rating systems in the world is LEED. It offers a comprehensive global framework for evaluating the sustainability of structures and projects in accordance with globally accepted environmental standards and was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Additionally, with the growing global trend of lowering carbon emissions and promoting sustainability, LEED certification is one of the most well-known green building rating systems. Meanwhile, this certification is given to projects that meet its criteria for water conservation, the use of sustainable building materials, and energy efficiency, thereby reducing their environmental impact.

The Four Levels of Certification Are as Follows:

• Certified
• Silver
• Gold
• Platinum

Projects achieving the highest sustainability scores receive LEED Platinum, the top rating in the system. This shows their dedication to the highest green building standards and helps businesses meet their sustainability objectives and improve their social and environmental performance.

New Achievement’s Significance

Beyond the resorts themselves, this new accomplishment is significant because it supports Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its revenue streams, which benefits the country’s economy. In line with Vision 2030’s objectives, sustainable tourism has emerged as a major source of investment.

This accomplishment has a positive effect on tourism in Saudi Arabia and supports the Kingdom’s efforts to lessen its reliance on oil revenues and concentrate on diversifying its sources of income by making Saudi tourist destinations more appealing and competitive internationally.

Additionally, tourism is a key instrument of soft power, helping to improve the nation’s reputation and emphasise its status as a popular travel destination worldwide.

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Shura Island Facts

The focal point of the Red Sea destination is Shura Island. As part of the Coral Bloom concept, Foster + Partners created the design with the goal of seamlessly integrating residential units, leisure centres, and luxury resorts while upholding the highest globally recognised sustainability standards.

Moreover, Shura Island has about 305 residential units, 11 upscale resorts with more than 2,000 rooms, and the first island golf course in the Kingdom with about 18 holes. Furthermore, it combines opulent lifestyle experiences with Saudi culture.

Read more: Coral Island: Jazan’s Pearl of the Red Sea Coast

2025 Data Shows a Sustainability Advance

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to improve environmental sustainability and grow the green building industry, supporting comprehensive sustainability, are evident when one looks back at the 2025 figures. The Kingdom received the highest performance score of 76.31 points, with certified green building areas estimated at more than 1.03 million square metres, according to the Saudi Green Building Forum.

In addition to having about 6,662 projects and a well-established professional network with over 7,300 registered specialists, the Forum reported that the Kingdom reduces carbon emissions by roughly 62,800 tonnes per year.

The Shura Island resorts’ LEED Platinum certification seems to be an extension of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to support best environmental practices, in line with many national initiatives, most notably the Saudi Green Initiative.

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