NEOM AND OCEANX RED SEA EXPEDITION REVEALS DEEP SEA MYSTERIES

• Thirty world-renowned experts undertook a six-week expedition, carrying out pioneering marine biological and oceanographic surveys in a part of the world that is still largely unexplored
  
  

• The findings from the expedition are being used to drive the design and implementation of marine protected areas in order to meet the commitments made to devote 95% of NEOM to the preservation of nature, both land and sea

• The expedition revealed an ecological treasure trove, including new species

NEOM, Saudi Arabia – October 13, 2021 – NEOM Co. today announced extensive findings from a joint mission with non-profit ocean exploration organization, OceanX, following the most adventurous assessment of the northern Red Sea to date. The six-week expedition took place aboard the OceanXplorer, the most advanced exploration, research and media vessel ever built. The expedition generated scientific research into marine ecosystems, megafauna, brine pools and coral reef conservation and regeneration. 

Commenting on the scientific discoveries, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, said: “NEOM goes beyond just being a global destination for investment, technology, tourism, or industrial and commercial sectors, by partnering with scientists, and international scientific and academic institutions for research and exploration. Today, we announce that the joint mission efforts have made significant achievements in the identification of previously unknown natural areas, as well as unprecedented global scientific discoveries.”

Al-Nasr added, “NEOM was an ideal location for the expedition, as it meets all the key objectives of Vision 2030, such as sustainability and the balance between urban development and environmental preservation. As NEOM plays a crucial role in realizing the Vision 2030, it was necessary to present humanity with a new global destination that encompasses all the elements for a futuristic cognitive society that advance people and places, while preserving the environment.”

Findings, captured over 960 hours of underwater research and mapping over 1,500km2 of the seabed in high resolution 3D, have established a baseline measure of biodiversity and habitat vitality that will allow NEOM to pursue its goal of both conserving and improving the health of surrounding ecosystems. 

The 30-person crew of world-renowned scientists, oceanographers and researchers included four NEOM experts, five from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA), five King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) experts, 11 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) researchers and five National Geographic explorers. 

Key findings include: 

• Discovery of an ocean pinnacle 635 m high (as tall as any of the world’s biggest skyscrapers except the Burj Khalifa) 
• Two sightings of a large squid, caught on camera and not previously observed in the region
• Discovery of the world’s most northern deep sea brine pool (dense bodies of water that have a salinity that is three to eight times greater than the surrounding ocean)
• Recording coral reefs that are resilient to climate change
• Identification of 341 fish species in the waters of NEOM, 68 that are native to the region and 18 that are globally threatened 
• Eight new species were recorded and over 600 km2 of biodiversity hotspots for fishes and corals discovered
• Confirmed presence of 12 species of megafauna in NEOM waters including whale sharks, dugong, turtles and dolphins
• Detailed surveys of three unexplored islands 
• Previously unrecorded tectonic plate shifts 
• Discovery of three ancient maritime and shipwreck sites

Dr Paul Marshall, Head of Nature Reserve at NEOM, commented: “The global ocean system is in crisis, but the damage is reversible. This partnership with OceanX reinforces NEOM’s commitment to science, conservation and safeguarding the planet. We believe that not only conserving, but improving, the health of our marine ecosystems, particularly our coral reefs, are key to our future and our success. This world-first expedition sets the stage for NEOM’s ambitious conservation program, which aspires to accelerate the transition to societies that live in harmony with nature.

“The findings of this expedition go far beyond the region and will support global efforts to protect and conserve marine ecosystems around the world, shedding light on the biological characteristics and oceanographic conditions necessary for survival in light of changes due to the global climate change crisis,” explained Dr Marshall.

Dr Vincent Pieribone, Chief Scientist and Vice Chairman at OceanX, said: “OceanX is committed to exploring places few others have been before and sharing our discoveries with the world. This joint mission has not only had a meaningful impact on the conservation of ecosystems in the northern Red Sea, but it has also produced a number of scientific discoveries of regional and global significance.”

OceanX combines science, technology and media to explore and raise awareness for the oceans and create a community engaged with protecting them. Using advanced underwater filmmaking tools, each moment of discovery was documented and updates from the expedition were shared with local schools, as well as OceanX’s global audience. The integration of scientific exploration and visual storytelling builds knowledge of the oceans and complements NEOM’s ambitions to inspire life-long learning. 

A nine-part series covering the expedition will be launched on NEOM’s YouTube channel and OceanX’s social media channels.