KBD was commissioned to review existing corporate-level environmental and social policies for a Public Investment Fund (PIF) entity, assessing their suitability for application to a large-scale coastal mixed-use development. The review identified significant gaps, with existing policies lacking the specificity and robustness required to manage environmental and social risks associated with sensitive coastal environments.
In response, KBD developed a set of project-specific ESG and sustainability frameworks designed to align economic, social, and environmental priorities. These frameworks support responsible resource management, enhance project resilience, and ensure long-term value creation.
The approach included defining the project’s sustainability vision, undertaking environmental and social impact assessments, establishing measurable performance targets, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, and embedding stakeholder engagement throughout the process.
A series of collaborative workshops with internal stakeholders formed the foundation of the framework development. These sessions explored best practices from comparable developments, evaluated strategic policy options aligned with the project’s scale and ambition, and defined clear environmental and sustainability objectives.
The outcomes demonstrated a strong commitment to integrating sustainability across all aspects of the development. The project team also identified opportunities to leverage the site’s unique coastal environment to inform design strategies and deliver innovative environmental solutions. As a result, additional sustainability themes—beyond those outlined in existing corporate strategies—were incorporated into the project-specific ESG framework.
This project transforms a vulnerable find into a strategic asset. It delivers decision-grade evidence for planners, preserves Red Sea maritime heritage for communities, and provides future-ready, reusable datasets for monitoring, education, and immersive engagement.
Heritage protection embedded in planning-not added at the end.
Cultural ValuePreserves Red Sea boatbuilding knowledge for education, tourism, and identity.
Future-Proof DataA reusable digital record ready for monitoring, research, and immersive outreach.
With a multidisciplinary team of over 150 professionals KBD combines local talent with global experts under one roof. Our mission is to drive transformative change and help achieve the nation’s Vision 2030 by providing strategic, science-backed solutions.
