Kingdom to develop new $3bn luxury mountain tourist resort at Al-Soudah
Project will feature 2,700 hotel rooms, 1,300 homes, and 30 entertainment attractions
Saudi Arabia is to create a $3 billion luxury resort in the picturesque forested mountains of Al-Soudah in the Kingdom’s southern Asir region. The development will include 2,700 hotel rooms, 1,300 homes, and 30 commercial and entertainment attractions, turning Al-Soudah and parts of Rijal Almaa governorate into a year-long sustainable destination for residents and visitors. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday launched the Soudah Development Company, fully owned by the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, to lead the development.
“Our investment in the Asir region reflects our confidence in the character of the location, which is a rich amalgamation of identity, heritage and experience,” said PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. “Through careful and considerate development, the Soudah Development Company will provide yet another remarkable destination in the diverse and growing portfolio of Saudi Arabian experiences capturing the imagination of a broad range of investors and travelers.”
Perched 3,000 meters up Saudi Arabia’s highest mountain, the juniper-covered Al-Soudah is already the Kingdom’s unofficial
outdoor adventure capital. Part of the vast Asir National Park, with its network of hiking routes, it is an area of cool mountain air, wild nature and mist-cloaked valleys. Hiking and guided camping trips are popular activities, and it is also an area of ancient tribal culture — especially in the historic village of Rijal Almaa, where the annual Flowerman Festival showcases the culture of the indigenous Aseri tribe. The new resort will add another dimension to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious tourism goals and complements projects underway on the Red Sea coast and around the capital, Riyadh. It aims to attract over 2 million visitors a year, targeting adventure seekers and culture travelers looking for unique experiences.
The project is expected to create 8,000 direct and indirect permanent jobs by 2030, and contribute $8 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP.