The Red Sea conjures images of golden sands, fishing boats and ancient traditions. However, a new multi-billion-dollar project is transforming the western coastline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Announced by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in 2017, the eco-tourism megaproject is underway in the Tabuk province of the Kingdom.
The development will see 50 upscale resorts completed by 2030, across several locations. The ambitious project is masterminded by Red Sea Global and financed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. From regenerating coral reefs to protecting the Kingdom’s cherished wildlife, the Red Sea project prioritises conservation as a first principle.
Luxury Desert Destinations
Encompassing an area the size of Taiwan, 99 per cent of the land will remain undeveloped while the ecosystems will be managed and maintained. The expansive scheme includes paradisical archipelagos and desert retreats. At the centre of the masterplan, an international airport serves a network of resorts from brands such as Six Senses, Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton.
Set within the undulating desert landscape of Umluj, Six Senses Southern Dunes is a five-star destination offering an otherworldly experience due to its unique setting. This exclusive retreat was the first Red Sea resort to launch.
Deep in the Arabian mountains, Desert Rock is a luxury resort hotel comprising design-led villas nestled into cliffs and caves. The hotel offers indulgent dining as well as adventure and wellness activities.
Exclusive Hotels and Residences on a Sprawling Archipelago
Immersed in wildlife, Shura Island is the jewel in the crown. The island will feature 11 world-class resorts, a yacht marina, a beach club and an array of restaurants, activities and entertainment. Known as Coral Bloom, this innovative, ecological scheme was designed by renowned architectural studio Foster + Partners. When completed, the project will include Raffles, Jumeirah and multiple Four Seasons resorts.
The island will also play host to a range of branded residences. Four Seasons Private Residences Red Sea, for instance, is a collection of 75 beachfront properties planned for completion in 2025. The community will include an Olympic-sized swimming pool and access to the facilities of the Four Seasons Resort. Via a dedicated fleet of electric vehicles, Red Sea International Airport is just 25 minutes away.
Shura Island is ideally positioned to embrace the sailing, snorkelling and scuba diving for which the area is coming to be known. However, it is just one of 92 islands in the Red Sea archipelago. Sheybarah Island, for example, offers uninterrupted sunset views, green spaces and the luxury Shebara resort.
Ummahat Island and Beyond
The serene St. Regis Red Sea Resort has launched on Ummahat Island, complete with Maldives-style overwater huts and a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Resort soon to join it. Meanwhile, Turtle Bay is a tranquil beachside community of detached villas set to eventually home 14,000 employees.
Further north, AMAALA is a coastal community with eight resorts scheduled to open in 2025. Centred around a breathtaking bay, AMAALA will feature resorts from both Four Seasons and Six Senses. Beyond Tabuk, Thuwal Private Retreat is a secluded getaway set on its own island just 70 kilometres north of Jeddah.
At the Intersection of Luxury and Sustainability
The Red Sea project celebrates the region’s rich biodiversity. With the fourth-largest coral reef in the world, the Red Sea is home to a wealth of marine life including more than 2,000 species of fish. The project aims not only to preserve their natural habitat but also to regenerate the surrounding corals. Red Sea Global is working closely with the Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) to achieve this. Once complete, the project aims to be 100 per cent powered by renewable energy.
Red Sea Global is also spearheading a vast landscape nursery several kilometres inland from Turtle Bay. This one-million-square-metre environmental scheme raises carefully selected plants. To date, more than one million have been planted. Underlining its success, Red Sea Global scooped the Regional Sector Leader Award from the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark, having scored 91/100 on their ESG assessment.
The monumental Red Sea project represents a feat of engineering, ingenuity and logistics. Its myriad resorts will offer unparalleled luxury experiences, underpinned by a defining commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.
