A region with year-round sun, sky-blue waters and luxury resorts sounds ideal. When listing these features, travellers might think of the Maldives, the Caribbean or Egypt’s stunning sites. Yet the latest entry into this market is in a different location: Saudi Arabia. The kingdom’s Red Sea Project is beginning to open to the world. It is described as a “pioneering regenerative tourism destination on the west coast of Saudi Arabia” that uses natural assets in a sustainable manner. Phase one of the project is nearing completion. It boasts a new international airport, set to be fully operational by this year, and a number of resorts across three islands and two inland sites.
By the time the project is finished in 2030, 50 hotels with 8,000 rooms are promised, alongside over 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The project website says development has been limited to ensure that no more than one million visitors can visit to preserve the Red Sea’s ecosystem annually. British travellers worried about the safety of making the trip to Saudi will be comforted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s advice, which only warns against visiting the border with Yemen.
The Red Sea islands are about as far from Yemen as London is from Madrid, while every other area within Saudi is not subject to Foreign Office warnings.
Bikinis may be worn in the country, and women are not required to cover their hair anywhere other than religious sites. However, the famously alcohol-free kingdom does not allow tourists in that area.
The region’s first hotel, The St Regis Red Sea Resort, opened last January and can be accessed by either a 30-minute speedboat ride or a 10-minute seaplane flight.
Prices at this location are above £1,000 per night year-round, and it is rumoured that numerous high-profile guests have recently stayed.
It is a reminder of the Maldives, with overwater villas, pools and a spa. At the same time, its nearby neighbour Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton hotel, boasts stargazing telescopes, private pools and bedrooms hidden under seashell-inspired domes.
This location will set guests back over £1,660 per night, and a number of beachfront houses are reportedly available to buy for $25 million (£19.7 million).
The Red Sea Project is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a master plan to shift the nation’s economy away from fossil fuels.
It describes itself as a “new model of development” which has “responsibility at its core”, striving not only to protect the environment but “enrich it for future generations to enjoy”.
Informed by a series of environmental studies, construction began after “the largest marine spatial planning simulation ever undertaken.
Less than 1% of the total site area is being developed, while over 75% of the Red Sea islands are being preserved for conservation.
When completed, the new Red Sea International Airport will be carbon-neutral and powered entirely by renewable energy.
Direct flights are currently available only from within Saudi Arabia and from Dubai.
