John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global (RSG), is steering Saudi Arabia’s premier regenerative tourism developer toward a new era of sustainability and innovation. RSG, a vertically integrated real estate company, is responsible for major developments along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, including flagship destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA.
Pagano brings over 35 years of global experience in the commercial property sector, with a career spanning Europe, North America, and the Caribbean. His expertise covers the entire real estate value chain: master planning, project structuring, financing, construction, and asset management.
Before taking the helm at RSG, Pagano led Old Fort Capital Investments, a firm providing strategic advice to landowners, investors, and developers on large-scale real estate projects. He previously spent more than two decades at London’s Canary Wharf, holding several senior executive roles. He also served as president of Baha Mar Development Company in the Bahamas, where he oversaw the $3.6bn development featuring four hotels, a convention center, and a championship golf course.
Pagano holds a bachelor of applied science in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto.
Under his leadership, RSG has launched several groundbreaking initiatives. In February, the company announced a pioneering agreement to introduce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to Saudi Arabia for the first time. The deal, in partnership with daa International and fuel supplier APSCO, allows airlines operating at Red Sea International Airport (RSI) to refuel using a blend of 35 per cent SAF and 65 per cent conventional Jet A1 fuel —reducing carbon emissions from participating aircraft by up to 35 per cent.
SAF and Lower-Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF) are at the forefront of international efforts to decarbonise aviation, supported by ICAO and IATA guidelines.
RSG, a company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification efforts. Through its growing portfolio of destinations and subsidiaries, the company champions responsible development that uplifts communities, drives economic growth, and protects the environment.
In April 2025, RSG unveiled its latest project: Laheq Island, a new residential island community at The Red Sea. Scheduled to open in 2028, Laheq marks the first expansion beyond Phase One of the destination, which welcomed its first guests in 2023 and now features five operational hotels and a fully functional airport.
Laheq represents RSG’s first residential-focused development at The Red Sea, combining private property ownership with luxury hospitality to bring island living to Saudi Arabia for the first time.
