01 May 2019

Saudi-based Nesma Trading Company said its joint venture with UAE’s Professional Landscape Company has been awarded a design-and-build contract by The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) for a giant onsite landscape nursery for the Red Sea Project in the kingdom (see also Page 52).

Spread over a sprawling 1-million-sq-m area in the kingdom, the nursery will be one of the largest in the region that will propagate groundcovers, plants, shrubs, trees and palms to help meet the demand of upwards of 15 million plants for landscaping by the time the destination is complete.

 CEO John Pagano said: “TRSDC is extremely pleased to announce the award of the contract for our onsite landscape nursery. This is another important milestone and a very challenging project given the unique set of logistical and environmental characteristics of the destination.

“We are equally pleased to award this contract to a partnership led by a Saudi company, one that has demonstrated its ability and commitment to delivering projects to the highest international development and sustainability standards.”

The plants grown in the nursery will be predominantly native species that are fully adapted to the climate and conditions around the destination, both coastal and inland. Additional desert-dwelling species may be included, after ensuring that any imported species will co-exist comfortably with the local flora and fauna, said the top official.

Chief development officer Ian Williamson said precise irrigation control and targeted application of water will reduce the nursery’s dependence on water from reverse osmosis.

Once the enabling infrastructure for the Phase One development is completed later this year, treated wastewater would be used to supplement irrigation, he noted.

“Providing water for a landscape nursery of this scale has been one of the key challenges,” he added.

According to him, the landscape nursery would give TRSDC two to three growing seasons per year, which is adequate time to propagate, mature and acclimatise trees, shrubs and plants in time for contractors to install the landscaping ahead of its 2022 opening.

“We will also propagate turfgrass for our championship golf course, hotels and residential properties,” he added.  

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