Team AMAALA enters The Ocean Race Europe, charting a new course for sailing and marine conservation

• Red Sea Global’s AMAALA destination backs elite sailing with new race team, expanding commitment to ocean restoration research

Riyadh, July 10, 2025 – Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations AMAALA and The Red Sea, has announced the launch of Team AMAALA, its new elite sailing team. The crew will compete in The Ocean Race Europe 2025, the most prominent offshore sailing race in Europe along a multi-stop course from the Baltic to the Adriatic Seas.

Team AMAALA’s entry marks an exciting new chapter in RSG’s growing connection with sailing as a sport, as well as the firm’s wider commitment to ensuring a sustainable future for oceans. Renowned Swiss sailor Alan Roura will lead Team AMAALA as skipper, bringing with him significant offshore racing experience and a strong track record in the IMOCA class, a 60-foot high-performance racing yacht.

“The Ocean Race and our Team AMAALA campaign provide us with an important platform to promote this cohesion between the common effort, for common good. If ever there was an era demanding common determination to protect our oceans and a sailor’s playground and purpose, this is it.”

After the initial race across Europe this summer, a transatlantic race between New York and Barcelona will also take place in 2026, followed by an around-the-world race in 2027, with RSG’s destination, AMAALA, hosting the Grand Finale.

Supporting ocean science and sustainability

As part of its wider engagement with The Ocean Race, AMAALA has also become an official supporter of The Ocean Race’s science program for both the 2025 European race and the 2027 global race. 

The Ocean Race science program plays a critical role in collecting comprehensive ocean data while the teams are racing, including water temperature and salinity, oxygen and CO2 levels, microplastic concentrations and eDNA. This data will be shared with international science organizations providing ocean scientists and researchers with more data points to better understand the changes taking place in European waters. During the last edition of The Ocean Race around the world in 2023, over 4-million data points were shared with researchers and scientific agencies.

Among the institutions set to benefit from the data is Corallium, AMAALA’s Marine Life Institute, a global center for ocean conservation, education, and entertainment opening later this year.

Building on a growing partnership

RSG’s partnership with The Ocean Race began in 2023, reflecting a shared commitment to ocean health, education, and advocacy. In 2024, AMAALA was named the official destination for the final leg of the 15th edition of The Ocean Race in 2027 — marking the first time the distinguished event will conclude in the Red Sea. 

“We believe deeply in this project, which strengthens our brand and offers great international visibility,” added Mr. Pagano. “We have been a part of The Ocean Race family since 2023 as RSG, but this is now Team AMAALA’s time to fly its flag and connect an international community with the yachting lifestyle that will be an important part of the destination.”

The first phase of AMAALA is progressing well, with the first guests to be welcomed later this year. This includes the luxurious AMAALA Yacht Club, a centerpiece of the destination set to attract, encourage and involve its members and visitors in the enjoyment of yachting and a shared commitment to ocean health. Upon full completion, the destination will offer 30 hotels and around 1,200 luxury residences, alongside marinas, retail, dining, wellness, and recreational facilities.