Saudi Arabia’s NEOM To Build Mega Luxury Resort Amidst Local Wildlife

NEOM, Saudi Arabia's ambitious USD 500 billion mega project focused on business and tourism, has unveiled plans to create a new mega luxury resort within a restored nature sanctuary.

Located on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba, and covering an area of four square kilometres, 'Zardun', according to a statement by NEOM, is envisioned as a "carefully restored haven filled with native plants and animals" and will feature an exclusive nature-centric resort.

The project will consist of three ultra-luxurious boutique hotels, collectively providing 100 rooms and suites, as well as a visitor centre and a 360-degree observation deck, offering panoramic views of the valley and the sea. Structured around a wildlife park, the development will also help facilitate the reintroduction of animals and plants native to the region, including the Arabian Oryx and Nubian Ibex.

As Chris van Duijn, partner at OMA, the Dutch studio behind the design explained in a statement, “Zardun is a very ambitious plan to bring back plants and animals that have been living on the Gulf of Aqaba.”

Additionally, Zardun will provide a range of outdoor activities, including trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and various other sports and leisure pastimes such as stargazing, meditation, and yoga. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in educational and field programs focused on nature protection, conservation, and rewilding.

Described by van Duijn as “a new movement to transform how we live and how we coexist on the planet,” Zardum seems to be focused on sustainability and environmental education just as much as opulence.