insights Boosting cultural tourism in the Middle East: the role groundbreaking infrastructure plays

Tourism in the Middle East accounts for around 9% of the region's GDP. 

Across the region, the groundwork is being laid out for sustainable tourism that respects natural and cultural heritage. 

Innovative private sector and government projects are positioning the region as a hub for cultural and sustainable tourism. Naturally, these state-of-the-art projects demand highly skilled professionals to aid in their completion.

Projects such as King Salman Park in Riyadh, the Red Sea Marine Life Institute project, and NEOM among many others, are shaping cultural heritage tourism. 

What is Cultural Tourism?

The United Nations (UN) defines Cultural Tourism as “A type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination”.

Cultural tourism is motivated by the opportunity to learn about and experience the cultural heritage and attractions of a destination. 

There are many sites popular for cultural heritage tourism in the Middle East, with more projects in progress further redefining the industry.

Infrastructure and its impact on cultural tourism in the Middle East

Saudi Arabia (KSA)

In the KSA, there are several mega-projects in progress that will boost cultural tourism when they reach completion. 

One example of a project underway is the New Murabba project, with the iconic landmark the Mukaab sat at its heart offering retail, cultural, and tourist attractions to visitors. New Murabba is forecasted to generate over $47bn in non-oil contribution to GDP. 

Another example is that of NEOM in the Tabuk province. 

Championed as ‘The future of entertainment & culture’ NEOM’s mission is to develop a new global capital for entertainment and culture. 

Culture is central to NEOM’s objectives and will celebrate residents and visitors alike.

The UAE

The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi is sustainably driven and committed to protecting and progressing the culture within the Emirate. 

Abu Dhabi’s tourism and culture sector is charged with supporting the evolution of the Emirate into a world-class destination while preserving cultural heritage. 

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi was announced in 2006 and is set for completion in 2025. 

As a collaboration between the Department of Culture and Tourism and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the museum will feature over 600 artistic works from an array of countries and regions, certainly playing its role in enhancing cultural tourism in the region.

Moving across to Dubai, several impressive projects expected to drive cultural tourism are in motion. One such example is the Dubai Creek Tower.

As a landmark project set to be completed in 2025, the Dubai Creek Tower is projected to outshine the current tallest building in Dubai. The Tower’s architecture was inspired by traditional Islamic architecture and draws inspiration from a lily flower.

Careers in the Middle East with AtkinsRéalis

There are numerous ongoing projects across the region to drive and enhance cultural heritage tourism. It’s clear to see that these construction ventures need highly skilled experts from a variety of specialisms. 

If you’re looking to expand your career and contribute to projects at the forefront of enhancing cultural heritage tourism, the roles we offer across the Middle East vary greatly but some of these include:

• Design Architects
• Commissioning, Civil, Mechanical & Electrical Engineers
• Environmental & Drainage Engineers
• Project Planners, Directors, and Control Leads
• Business Development Managers
• HSE Officers

Engineering a better future for our planet and its people

Whatever your career stage, there’s never been a better time to join us in the Middle East. 

We’ve been ranked number one in the region’s Top 30 engineering, procurement and construction companies and we’re always working on over 100 projects at any given time.

Browse our latest jobs today and help make a difference for generations to come.