Designing the world’s largest coral nursery
In May 2022, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) partnered with IDOM to design and build the world’s largest and technologically advanced land-based coral nursery as part of the KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative at Haddah Beach, NEOM.
IDOM has been responsible to assist KAUST with the selection and studies of the site for the land-based coral nursery, the analysis of different alternatives and the complete design of the coral propagation facilities, among other functions.
The pilot development coral nursery was inaugurated in March 2024. Located at the same site of the main nursery, this 1,000 m² facility will support the propagation of up to 40,000 corals annually.
During the ceremony on March 7, 2024, KAUST and NEOM also celebrated the groundbreaking of the main nursery (16,000 m²) that will have a capacity of 400,000 corals annually and is expected to be constructed by the end of 2025.
