Heart of the World

The Heart of the World is a large-scale urban development project on Magarsam Island in northeastern Sudan along the Red Sea.¹ The island is strategically located 200 kilometers from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), 280 kilometers from Marsa Alam (Egypt), and approximately 1,000 kilometers from Sudan’s capital, Khartoum.² The development includes a comprehensive free zone integrating economic, industrial, and tourism-related activities.³
The project envisions transforming Magarsam Island into a “global investment, tourism, and business hub,” enhancing Sudan’s economic profile on the Red Sea.

The project aims to become a major attraction for foreign direct investments, contributing to increased growth rates, reduced unemployment, and broader uplift through the creation of job opportunities during construction and operational phases.⁴

To implement the vision, a master plan was developed for an area 135 kilometers north of Port Sudan,⁵ covering 323 million square meters.⁶ It integrates residential, commercial, tourism, and recreational zones. Key components include:^{7 8}

• Residential areas
• Hotels and touristic cities with resorts and recreational amenities
• Shopping centers
• A port and marina areas accommodating over 2,400 boats and docks for over 700 large yachts
  • An airport with facilities for aircraft operations, maintenance, and management
• A business tower 1,750 meters tall, shaped like a corn stalk. It will also feature the world’s largest fountain
• A media production city
• An industrial city
• Sports facilities

Upon completion, the island is projected to accommodate 150,000 residents, host 120,000 employees, and attract over 90,000 visitors per month.⁹

The project is initiated by the Government of Sudan. With an approximate cost of $20 billion,¹⁰ it is funded and implemented by Saudi-based Alhussaini Holding Company.¹¹ According to the executing company, 75 companies from Saudi Arabia and Oman have already shown investment interest. A dedicated bank for the project is planned.¹²
The project is expected to be implemented in phases:¹³

• Phase 1 (mid-2017 – 2020): Development of core infrastructure; electricity networks, roads, and a port (8-meter depth, 1,000 tons capacity), a desalination plant, and a renewable energy power station.
• Phase 2 (2020 – 2024): Partial completion of Al-Massa City and the airport (75%), and the port (50%).
• Phase 3 (2024 – 2038): Construction of the media production city, financial district, villas, and tourism facilities, expected to accommodate around 5,000 investors from across the globe.

It should be noted that the Sudanese authorities later revoked the license granted to a Saudi investor due to disputes with the government.¹⁴