This paper concerns the planning for sustainable development of a global common pool resource within an autocratic region. The study is focused on the coral reef of the Red Sea, shared between the basin countries; Djibouti, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Israel, Jordan and Eritrea, where most nations are autocracies and developing countries. The viewpoint of this research is the only multinational project within the region focused on the conservation and sustainability of the coral reefs in the Red Sea, the “Regional Action Plan for the Conservation of Coral Reefs in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (RAP CCRRSGA)”. The aim of the research in this paper is to study the planning of this project in relation to sustainable development, through an interpretation of Ostrom’s framework using seven out of eight design principles. This research is executed through a method of ideal-type analysis, in order to assess how ideal-types of these design principles correlate with the planning of this project through similarities between the project and the design principles. This research has resulted in and demonstrated the importance of clarified compliance and cooperation, to reach effective and successful planning of sustainable development pertaining to a shared common pool resource within an autocratic region.