As part of the landmark Red Sea Global initiative, WJ Saudi was appointed to deliver specialist dewatering services for the prestigious Central Hotel development on Shura Island, located on the western coastline of Saudi Arabia. Shura Island is the centerpiece of The Red Sea destination, envisioned by The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) as a world-class luxury tourism hub.
Designed by internationally renowned architects Foster + Partners, the Coral Bloom concept integrates sustainable design with the island’s natural environment. The Central Hotel, distinguished by its iconic multicolored umbrellas and surrounding villas, lies at the heart of this development.
This tunnel, running nearly 1 km in length, 60 meters in width, and reaching depths of up to 12 meters, was excavated just 10 meters from the sea and adjacent to a quay wall—posing significant groundwater control challenges.
The close proximity to the Red Sea, coupled with highly permeable geological formations, required a robust and carefully engineered dewatering system to ensure excavation safety and protect the surrounding marine environment, including coral reefs and pristine coastal waters.
WJ Saudi was engaged from the pre-construction phase, collaborating closely with design teams to provide early-stage dewatering concept design and pumping test programs. Our engineers conducted extensive hydrogeological assessments and developed 3D dewatering models to simulate groundwater behavior and optimize the system design.
Protecting the surrounding marine ecosystem was a top priority. WJ implemented a strict water quality monitoring program, which included:
The project site featured silty sands overlaying Coraline Limestone, a porous formation containing remnants of ancient coral reefs and marine fossils. Multiple fissures and fractures—particularly those filled with dark grey silt—acted as natural conduits for seawater ingress.
WJ’s extensive experience in karstic limestone formations and similar geological settings enabled us to adapt swiftly to changing conditions and effectively manage high inflow zones.
Thanks to WJ Saudi’s engineering expertise, proactive planning, and responsive site management, the dewatering works were completed successfully, allowing uninterrupted excavation and construction of the utility tunnel beneath Shura Island’s Central Hotel.
We are proud to have collaborated with leading project stakeholders including:
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