Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Golf Saudi and Atlas Turf have officially formed a new joint venture.

An initial agreement between Golf Saudi LLC and Atlas Turf International in 2019 to develop the region’s first internationally licensed golf and sports turf farm in Saudi Arabia has now received its foreign investment license from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment (MISA) and commercial registration from the Ministry of Commerce.

It will operate in Saudi Arabia as a limited liability joint venture company – Atlas Turf Arabian Agricultural Company. 

Atlas Turf Arabia will develop and distribute some of the world’s most climatically adapted turf species throughout Saudi Arabia, starting with Platinum TE Paspalum in the first instance, with both Bermudagrass and Zoysia to follow in due course.  

“Atlas Turf Arabia will serve as a vital link in the supply chain framework in Saudi Arabia, fulfilling the objectives of Vision 2030, by providing access to turf grass solutions for Saudi-based organisations who require it,” said Majed Al Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation. 

He added: “Golf Saudi is committed to not only securing the very best turf solutions for its own needs but to also do so by the most socially and environmentally conscious means possible.

“By owning and operating our very own state-of-the-art turf farm, via Atlas Turf Arabia, means that we are able to not only source product sustainably but also create new job opportunities for Saudi nationals to operate the site locally, which is a key objective of Golf Saudi’s Social Agenda.” 

The Social Agenda is proof of golf’s growing impact on the people of Saudi Arabia, as Golf Saudi looks to create additional educational and employment opportunities within the Kingdom.

By also offering sustainable turf solutions to projects outside of golf, including other sports federations and organisations, as well as infrastructure and landscaping projects, Atlas Turf Arabia will continue to add further employees to its overall headcount in the months and years ahead.

Several of the leading golf and landscaping projects in Saudi Arabia have secured their grass supply from Atlas Turf Arabia and the turf farm will harvest the first order of turf in Q4 2021. 

Atlas Turf Arabia will also work closely with GEO Foundation, the international non-profit that for the last 15 years has been dedicated to accelerating sustainability and climate action across golf.

In partnership with GEO, Golf Saudi has developed national and regional strategies to maximise environmental sustainability from initial land evaluation through to construction methodology and the Turf Farm will follow a similar sustainable pathway to certification to ensure an environmentally sustainable legacy.  

John Holmes, President of Atlas Turf International, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, said: “The establishment of Atlas Turf Arabia and the opening of our first turf farm in Saudi Arabia is the culmination of our mission to provide high quality, sustainable solutions for turfgrass projects worldwide.

“We are incredibly proud to play our part in not only working with new customers and supplying unique projects across the Middle East but to also create a positive and long-lasting legacy through the creation of new jobs and training opportunities for Saudi citizens.

“This is just the first step in Atlas Turf Arabia’s journey to create a regional team capable of achieving its long-term and sustainable vision for the future of turfgrasses, not just in golf but other unique projects too.” 

Research and development will form a cornerstone of the turf farm’s operations with Atlas Turf Arabia looking to utilise modern scientific practice to further develop a range of saline and drought resistant turf grasses, which can also survive and grow in arid conditions and high temperatures.