Everything You Need to Know About Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea

Six years ago HRH Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman declared that Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea would become an international tourist destination as part of the Kingdom's 2030 Vision.

This month Red Sea Global, the multi project developer behind the regenerative tourism projects happening across these vast ethereal swathes of coastline, announced that in a matter of months travellers from across the world will be able to start enjoying some of the world’s most imaginative escapes from haute-hotels hewed into rock to luxury resorts virtually woven into the shimmering waters.

What seemed like a pipe dream is on the precipice of revealing itself to be a reality that feels like a dream… and yet one that will have an indelible impact on the global and regional tourism landscape.

“We stand at the brink of an extraordinary moment as we prepare to unveil The Red Sea destination to the world,” John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global, tells #SceneTraveler. “In six years, we have made exceptional progress, creating exquisite resorts and best-in-class, sustainable infrastructure in a remote location, demonstrating innovation in line with our regenerative approach and commitment to responsible development.”

Upon full completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites.

“While the anticipation builds for the opening of our first hotels and the initial phase of our solar powered airport, we are busy working on the rest of phase one,” Pagano adds. “We are ready to deliver countless more extraordinary moments on our journey to positioning Saudi Arabia proudly on the world stage as a must-visit destination.”

DESERT ROCK RESORT

The unique mountain resort that is being built into the rock face is more than 50% complete, with the 10 rooms that will be integrated into the mountainside already fully formed. Their Wadi Villas and guest hubs are also well on their way to completion.

SHURA ISLAND

Shura is the main hub island at The Red Sea. With a natural dolphin shape, it is one of 92 in their archipelago and home to stunning vistas, incredible native fauna and flora, and beautiful wildlife. Due to open to guests in 2024, the island will house 11 world-class hotels and resorts including Edition, Fairmont, Raffles, SLS, InterContinental, Jumeirah, Miraval, Rosewood and Grand Hyatt.

Work is ongoing on all 11 resorts and infrastructure across the island. Over 100 construction contracts are in place, with a similar number out in the market for tender. Red Sea Global continues to maximise use of off-site manufacturing with precast structures progressing rapidly, bathroom pod deliveries underway, and the prefabricated timber structure on the Golf Clubhouse nearing completion. The developer is moving onto beach formation and beautification works which includes the creation of new mangrove habitats in the coming months.

SHEYBARAH ISLAND

A 45-minute boat ride from the mainland,  Sheybarah is a paradisiacal island featuring a spectacular 30 to 40-metre reef drop-off close to the beach providing the ultimate spot for exploring ocean life. 73 rooms are in the works including reflective overwater orbs and luxury inland villas.

RSG has now installed all 38 stainless steel overwater villas. While the first overwater villa took nine hours to install, the developer tells us that they’ve now perfected the process so it requires less than two hours. The first beach villas have arrived at the island, one of which has successfully been installed. The developer is also making substantial progress on other front and back of house structures and infrastructure, including foundation work on the spa and two specialised restaurants.

SIX SENSES SOUTHERN DUNES

Located along the historic incense trade route against the backdrop of desert plains and the Hijaz Mountains, Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea resort will be the first to open within a matter of months. The resort also plays host to, and is powered by, one of five solar farms with RSG having fully installed more than 760,000 photovoltaic panels needed to power phase one of The Red Sea

UMMAHAT ISLANDS

Ummahat is home to two of the most exclusive resorts on  Saudi Arabi’s Red Sea - the St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Construction on both the properties have neared completion with opened dates tentatively set for the final quarter of 2023