John Pagano: connecting development expertise with Saudi tourism

John Pagano leads Red Sea Global, the developer behind The Red Sea and AMAALA on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast. His role connects large-scale development with the Kingdom’s ambition to broaden its economy through tourism.

From engineering to destination development

Red Sea Global’s official biography describes nearly four decades of international development experience and his leadership of the business since 2018. Before joining, he established Old Fort Capital Investments, an advisory business focused on major real estate projects. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Toronto and studied corporate finance at London Business School.

The leadership lens

For professionals following Saudi tourism, his remit offers a useful lens on the interaction between engineering, finance and hospitality. Our editorial takeaway: a destination needs coordinated capabilities across disciplines, as well as a compelling visitor proposition.

Sources and context

This independently written profile draws on Red Sea Global’s official leadership biography. Public LinkedIn profile. Checked 15 October 2026. This is not an original interview or an endorsement.

Portrait source: Skift Live speaker biography.