Amala Ocean Golf - Amala Red Sea

The AMALA project is a major ultra-luxury tourism and wellness destination being developed along the Red Sea coast in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Often referred to as the "Riviera of the Middle East," it is a cornerstone of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiative, aimed at diversifying the nation's economy away from oil. A new residential development project required retaining walls to surround its plot. This necessitating a vertical retaining wall that would also serve as a boundary wall. In other areas, there was sufficient space to construct tiered retaining walls that could accommodate other construction. This presented a dual challenge of designing a versatile retaining wall system that balanced space constraints, aesthetics, and functional integration of landscaping features.

To address the multifaceted challenges of the project protection, Amala Properties engaged Maccaferri Middle East to propose a suitable solution. Maccaferri recommended the use of a Terramesh Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) wall system, which combined structural robustness with aesthetic appeal. The gabion faced Terramesh system was designed to act as a durable retaining wall while also addressing the scour protection requirements with its 2-meter-deep embedment, exceeding the estimated scour depth of 1 meter. To enhance the wall’s visual integration with the surrounding landscape, the gabion face was filled with locally sourced limestone from the same site, ensuring a natural appearance. For soil reinforcement, Maccaferri utilized BBA-certified Paragrid geogrid, known for its superior resistance to installation damage, even with challenging rock-fill backfill. Maccaferri Middle East provided a comprehensive scope of services, including design, material supply, and construction assistance.