Amir Gohar, PhD. FHEA. AMLI.

As part of the Agro-Tourism Facilities Development Programme led by MasterPlanEco, this project involved the planning and spatial development of three distinct agro-tourism destinations in Saudi Arabia: Jannah Island, El-Ghat Farm, and Dirab Farm. Each site presented a different environmental, cultural, and operational context, requiring tailored approaches to integrate agricultural production with visitor experience.

The work focused on shaping these sites as immersive rural destinations, where agriculture becomes both a productive system and a curated experience. This included developing site strategies that balance ecological sensitivity, land use efficiency, and tourism activation, ranging from circulation networks and zoning of activities to the positioning of visitor facilities, accommodation clusters, and agricultural interfaces.

Operating within a multidisciplinary team of architects, landscape architects, and quantity surveyors, the role contributed to aligning spatial planning decisions with broader development objectives set by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. The process required translating national ambitions for diversifying tourism into site-specific frameworks that could support local economies, enhance visitor engagement, and maintain the integrity of the agricultural landscape.

Across the three projects, the approach emphasized creating layered experiences, where visitors engage with farming practices, local produce, and rural life, while ensuring that the sites remain operationally viable and environmentally responsive. The outcome positioned agro-tourism not simply as an add-on to agriculture, but as a structured spatial and experiential system that connects production, culture, and tourism.