Business Daily John Pagano: The CEO trying to grow Saudi tourism
Dec 12, 2025
John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global and veteran real estate developer, shares his journey from humble beginnings to overseeing massive projects like London's Canary Wharf. He dives into the ambitious plans transforming Saudi Arabia into a tourism hub, discussing luxury positioning, wildlife conservation efforts, and the socio-cultural reforms impacting women. Pagano also reflects on gaining Saudi citizenship and the optimism he feels about the future of the Kingdom. With community upliftment at the core, he’s excited about the legacy these developments will leave.
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Humble Work Beginnings
- John Pagano started working young with a paper route at eight and weekend jobs in restaurants.
- Those early jobs instilled a work ethic that propelled his career into engineering and real estate.
Engineering Mindset Drives Development
- Engineering trained John Pagano to solve problems and understand how things work, guiding his development career.
- That mindset led him from Canada to major projects like Canary Wharf in London.
Canary Wharf Transformation
- John Pagano was hired to help regenerate London's Canary Wharf after dockland decline and housing a new financial district.
- He spent 23 years there and later reflected on the need for mixed-use development as cities evolve.