John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global, Converts to Islam and Receives Saudi Citizenship

In one of the more quietly significant stories to come out of Saudi Arabia recently, John Pagano, the CEO of Red Sea Global, converted to Islam and was granted Saudi citizenship by royal approval. He joins Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, who also embraced Islam and received Saudi citizenship at the same time, in what has been widely described as a milestone moment under the Kingdom's Vision 2030 transformation agenda.

The royal decree was issued as part of Saudi Arabia's ongoing program to attract distinguished scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and experts in rare specializations who can contribute meaningfully to the national economy. Both men were recognized for the added value they bring to Saudi Arabia's most ambitious development sectors.

Pagano shared the news on X, writing:

"It is a great honor to share that I have been granted Saudi citizenship. My sincerest gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for this immense privilege and trust. Having spent several years living in the Kingdom, I've embraced its culture, built lasting connections with its people, and witnessed its inspiring transformation. Saudi Arabia has become a place I proudly call home."

Who Is John Pagano

John Pagano is a British national with over 40 years of experience in large-scale luxury development. Before his work in Saudi Arabia, he served as president of Baha Mar, a luxury resort and residential development company in the Bahamas, where he oversaw the $3.6 billion development of the Baha Mar resort. That project alone established him as one of the most experienced luxury development executives in the world.

He has led Red Sea Global since the company's inception, overseeing two of the most ambitious regenerative tourism projects in the world: The Red Sea and AMAALA, both situated along Saudi Arabia's western coastline.

Red Sea Global was formed in 2022 following the merger of The Red Sea Development Company and AMAALA, and is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Forbes Middle East recognized Pagano as one of its Travel and Tourism Leaders in acknowledgment of his role in shaping the Kingdom's emerging luxury tourism sector.

Speaking to Arab News, Pagano described the reaction from ordinary Saudis to his citizenship as overwhelmingly warm.

"The Saudi people are incredibly hospitable and they've always been warm and welcoming, but I was overwhelmed by the number of congratulatory messages that I received upon the formal announcement of my Saudi citizenship. They've embraced me. They make me feel at home. I feel now part of society here and I'm absolutely thrilled with it."

Red Sea Global: Where Things Stand

Pagano's work at Red Sea Global is central to why the Kingdom extended this honor. Between The Red Sea and AMAALA, 27 hotels and resorts are planned in total. Nine have already opened, with all 27 resorts and hotels on track to open by April to May 2026. A new international airport already serves the region, recording 16 flights per week at the time of reporting, with numbers expected to grow as both destinations expand.

Pagano has spoken openly about the scale and ambition of the projects. "We know they're not the most cost-effective solutions, but they are the most dramatic and have attracted global attention, which was the original intention under Vision 2030, to put Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map," he told Arab News.

He also credited Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's hands-on leadership as central to driving the projects forward. "I have never experienced this in my life where the future sovereign of the country is so deeply involved in the details of really driving home Vision 2030 and the creation of unique designs that are going to be instantly recognizable as being Saudi Arabian."

Both Pagano and Kalanick join a growing but still selective list of foreign nationals to have received Saudi citizenship, a recognition historically reserved for individuals whose contributions align directly with the Kingdom's national priorities. Saudi Arabia's citizenship program evaluates candidates through a rigorous vetting process across science, medicine, technology, culture, and entrepreneurship.

For Pagano, the honor represents more than a professional milestone. After years of building what will become one of the most distinctive luxury tourism destinations in the world, he has made clear that Saudi Arabia is not simply a place of work. It is, in his own words, home.