Red Sea is making most of the big blue as Saudi coastal projects start to take shape
It may not be as globally talked about as the $500 billion megaproject Neom, but Saudi Arabia’s ambitious regenerative tourism development, the Red Sea, has also intrigued plenty of travellers around the world.
The project was first announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017 and has since been developed over 28,000 square kilometres of land, featuring an archipelago of more than 20 islands.
It promises pristine coastlines, unrivalled marine life and a variety of upscale accommodation options.
This is all being done in line with the principles of the regenerative tourism trend, which, at its simplest, seeks to deliver a net positive benefit to people, places and nature, supporting the longterm renewal and flourishing of local social and ecological systems.
The Red Sea development is on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, in the Tabuk province, about five hours north of Jeddah.
It is also a couple of hours’ drive north of Yanbu and five hours from Madinah. The ancient city of AlUla is also about a four-hour drive north.
Surrounding towns include Umluj, which has been referred to as “the Maldives of Saudi Arabia”, as well as Tawala and Hanak.
Two luxury hotels have already opened. Six Senses Southern Dunes was the first, greeting guests in November at its inland location set within the desert and dunes.
This was followed by seaside resort The St Regis Red Sea, which sits on Ummahat Island and opened last month.
In 2021, the 144-room Turtle Bay Hotel opened within the project’s Coastal Village and has been used as a base for staff, employees and contractors working on the destination.
The eco-friendly hotel has no singleuse plastics and a zero-waste-to-landfill plan. It also minimises water consumption and prioritises recycling and reuse of materials.
In September, the Red Sea International Airport also welcomed its inaugural flight, a Saudia Airlines service from Riyadh, as the development moved closer to its official opening.
The next hotel set to launch is Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the opening of which is currently scheduled for May, according to Marriott.
This will be the region’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, joining six others around the world in Japan, China,
Mexico, Puerto Rico, Bali and Thailand. It will sit within a collection of private islands in the Blue Hole atoll.
All 38 stainless steel overwater villas and 35 beach villas have also already been installed at Shebara resort, a brand being developed by Red Sea Global, along with one more ownbrand inland resort at Desert Rock, which remains on track to welcome guests later this year.
A further 11 luxury hotels are due to be completed on Shura Island – part of the first phase of the development – by 2025, which is also when the main airport terminal is expected to be ready.
The whole project is due for completion by 2030 and eventually will comprise 50 resorts, with up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. Other hotel brands that are already signed up to open here include the Four Seasons, Rosewood, Grand Hyatt and SLS.
The destination also promises marinas, golf courses, a variety of entertainment options and dining outlets, plus other leisure facilities.
The best way to reach it is by a twice-weekly service with Saudia Airlines from Riyadh. It departs King Khalid International Airport every Thursday and Saturday. The flight takes less than two hours and returns to Riyadh later the same day.
There is also a twice-weekly service on the same airline from Jeddah, which takes less than 90 minutes. It runs on Sundays and Thursdays.
Travellers can also head to Prince Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Yanbu, which is about a two-hour drive from the area.
Flydubai offers direct flights to Yanbu two or three times a week (depending on your dates). Saudia and Qatar Airways also offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Yanbu, connecting in Riyadh or Doha.
To reach the island resorts, Red Sea Global launched the kingdom’s first seaplane company in October to ferry visitors using sustainable aviation fuel.
Fly Red Sea transports guests between resorts, including The St Regis, operating a fleet of four Cessna Caravan 208 seaplanes, featuring luxury interiors.
There are plans for the airline to grow to nine seaplanes by 2028 and to more than 20 by 2030.