The Red Sea Development Project, a tourism megaproject in Saudi Arabia, is a key component of the Saudi Vision 2030 program. Initiated by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in July 2017, the project covers a vast 28,000 km2 area in the Tabuk province on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, nestled between the cities of Umluj and Al-Wajh. This expansive region includes 90 pristine offshore islands, 200 km of picturesque Red Sea coastline, as well as diverse landscapes featuring beaches, deserts, mountains, and volcanoes.
The Red Sea Project aims to enhance the tourism sector with resorts, historical, cultural attractions, and recreational activities. The first phase of the project finished in 2023. On completion in 2030, the destination will offer 8,000 rooms in 50 hotels, and 1,000 residential properties. It also aims to contribute 70,000 jobs and $5.3bn to the Saudi economy by then.
The genesis of The Red Sea Project dates back to July 2017 when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman unveiled this visionary initiative. Envisioned as a catalyst for redefining tourism and championing sustainable development, construction for The Red Sea Project officially kicked off in February 2019, with a slated completion date of 2030. The project adopted a phased development strategy, witnessing the inauguration of its first three hotels in 2023. Subsequently, a more extensive launch unfolded in 2024, featuring an array of 16 hotels, the Red Sea International Airport, a yachting marina, historical sites, and recreation centers.
Among the initial landmarks, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, Nujuma Ritz Carlton Reserve, and Six Senses Southern Dunes were opened for public in January 2024. These iconic destinations represent the inaugural wave of The Red Sea Project, signaling the beginning of a transformative journey. Notably, the destination's dedicated airport is poised for its inaugural flight, and Saudi Arabia is actively engaged in a comprehensive recruitment and training initiative to fill the multitude of roles within this multibillion-dollar venture.
The Six Senses Southern Dunes, offering 76 keys, and the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, situated on a private island with an anticipated 90 villas, epitomize the luxury and grandeur inherent in The Red Sea Project. Meanwhile, on the Ummahat islands, the exquisite Nujuma Ritz-Carlton Reserve, featuring 82 keys, including overwater and beach villas, further exemplifies the commitment to creating an unparalleled and sustainable tourism destination in this breathtaking region.
John Pagano is the Group Chief Executive Officer of The Red Sea Development Program. Assisting in the administrative domain is Eng. Ahmad G. Darwish, the Group Chief Administrative Officer, responsible for ensuring seamless operations across various facets of the project.
Dr. Maryam Ali Ficociello is the Group Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer, while the Group Chief Development Officer is Nicholas King. Tareq Musmali, as the Group Chief Internal Audit Officer, ensures the integrity of internal processes, upholding transparency and compliance. Matin Greenslade, the Group Chief Financial Officer, manages the financial aspects, playing a pivotal role in the fiscal health of the project.
The leadership team also includes Tracy Lanza, the Group Head of Global Brand Development, who oversees the project's brand strategy on a global scale. Benjamin Edwards, as the Group Head of Cost, Commercial, and Procurement, handles the financial and commercial aspects of the venture. Greg Djerejian, the Group Head of Investments & Legal, navigates the legal landscape and investment portfolios. Finally, John Dunne, the Group Head of Health & Safety, ensures a secure and compliant work environment for all involved in The Red Development Project.
The Red Sea Project consists of the following eight sub-projects:
Turtle Bay
Turtle Bay, a coastal village, with state-of-the-art residential and commercial area, will house around 14,000 workers, staff, and management at The Red Sea. There are already around 1,000 people living in Turtle Bay. Turtle Bay includes high-quality corporate offices, as well as housing, restaurants and a wide range of leisure and recreational facilities. Innovative smart services are installed throughout the village to provide residents with a smooth and seamless way of living, while all buildings have been held to stringent environmental standards during development. The total size of Turtle Bay is 1.5 million m2, three-quarters the size of Monaco.
Ummahat Island
The Ummahat is home to two of the most exclusive resorts, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and an abundance of thriving coral reefs, guests of the island will experience a thriving water sports centre, wide range of water-based activities at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort. Diving is the biggest draw for guests at the Nujuma, with a state-of-the-art diving centre facilitating a range of undersea activities.
Shura Island
Shura is the main hub island at The Red Sea. With a natural dolphin shape, the island is one of 92 in the archipelago and home to stunning vistas, incredible native fauna and flora, the largest barrier reef system 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 brands. Guests will have a wide choice of experiences and attractions to enjoy, including an 18-hole championship golf course, a marina and a beach club, as well as a variety of luxury retail options.
Southern Dunes
Southern Dunes is one of two inland resorts in the Red Sea project. It is based around 100 km northeast of the town of Umluj, a beach town on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. Southern Dunes has 40 stunning villas, a 36 keys hotel complex, stylish reception buildings, a large outdoor pool, fitness centre, world-class Six Senses Spa and several high-quality restaurants. The heart of the resort is the Oasis. Inspired by a desert flower, the canopy is a self-shading structure that will host vibrant activities and functions under one roof.
Sheybara Island
The Sheybara Island, a 45-minute boat ride from the mainland, houses 73 inland and overwater luxury villas, surrounded by crystal clear waters. Guests can enjoy water-based activities, unwind on one of the island’s many white sandy beaches or dive into a spectacular 30 to 40-metre reef drop-off close to the beach, providing the ultimate spot for exploring ocean life.
Desert Rock
The Desert Rock is an accommodation built inside of the mountain, with interiors that have been excavated from the rock. The rooms offer undisrupted views of the dramatic desert landscape. The resort has been crafted to allow guests to connect with the natural beauty of the region while protecting it for future generations.
Featuring 50 villas and 10 hotel rooms nestled among the magnificent vistas, the architecture is fully integrated into the rock, preserving its stunning silhouette and paying homage to the Oppenheim Architectural philosophy of building with the land, and not on it.
The Red Sea Nursery
At over 1 million square metres, the Red Sea Nursery is the largest landmass in the region and provides for more than 30 million plants for The Red Sea and Amaala projects. It is now fully operational. The nursery has been built to reduce reliance on importing foreign species of plants and instead allowing native plants to thrive. Guests can satisfy their senses by visiting the nursery through touching, smelling, and seeing beautiful and rare plants, shrubs, trees and palms.
Red Sea Airport
The Red Sea Airport is an operational luxury transit hub to The Red Sea and Amaala destinations – and beyond. The Saudi Arabian Airlines currently operates five flights per week (from Riyadh and Jeddah) to the Red Sea Airport.
Project Thuwal
Thuwal Private Retreat is the third destination to be developed by Red Sea Global and the first to be owned and operated exclusively by the company. As a buy-out-only destination, Thuwal Private Retreat promises a peerless escape to a magical island amid the pure waters of the Red Sea on Saudi Arabia's western coast.
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