Travel + Leisure - India & South Asia
Future by the Sea
Replete with art galleries and wellness retreats, all built with sustainability as the cornerstone, AMAALA is set to be an ultra-luxe destination in Saudi Arabia.
AN ULTRALUXURY TOURISM project set to enhance the beauty of the Red Sea, AMAALA will rise like a dream on the northwestern coast of Saudi Arabia. The three-part concept will include The Island, which will offer extraordinary art residencies; the Triple Bay, home to exclusive wellness retreats and a worldclass sports facility; and the Coastal Development, which will transform the glorious coastline into a hub of art and culture. Designed to elevate luxury travel as well as make it more meaningful, AMAALA aims to offer immersive experiences with the goal of a zero-carbon footprint.
Named after the Arabic word for ‘hope’, AMAALA is part of the Kingdom’s 2030 vision. It’ll be spread across 4,155 square kilometres of unspoilt terrain within the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Natural Reserve. However, only five per cent of the entire site has been slated for development, and the rest is earmarked for conservation purposes. The project takes inspiration from the Bedouin tribes native to the region who hold a deep-rooted connection with the land and the sea.
Among the prospective features of the project are a solar energy farm to fuel the entire space, robust waste management and recycling systems, transport powered by renewable energy, and an organic farm equipped with sustainable farming techniques as well as housing species indigenous to the Arabian Peninsula. A part of AMAALA will be home to the Red Sea’s coral reef ecosystem that makes up 6.2 per cent of the world’s total coral reefs. Together with the Marine Life Institute at AMAALA, the aim is to protect and preserve the aquatic life and add to the research and education of oceanography, while offering premium facilities and engaging experiences. amaala.com