The Red Sea project is scheduled to receive its first guests during this year 2023, and welcomes the new year with four major tourist destinations to operate at full capacity in the next few months.
The destination, developed by The Red Sea Company, is located on more than 28,000 square kilometers of land and pristine waters and is committed to protecting, preserving and enhancing the natural environment.
By 2030, the giant project will have 50 hotels, 8,000 rooms, up to 1,000 residential properties and its own international airport.
4 upcoming projects
Meanwhile, here are four projects that are expected to open in the first phase.
Southern Dunes Resort
This resort overlooking the Red Sea is one of the two inland sites in the first phase of the Red Sea Project. The architectural approach is a tribute to the Nabataean heritage and majestic desert and dune surroundings.
Similarly, the design of the resort uses sustainable and lightweight materials that echo the textures of the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
The basic structure is a precast modular system which ensures that the building only lightly touches the ground leaving most of the site untouched, with minimal paving to ensure the surrounding walkways remain natural and pristine.
What’s more, the engineering beneath the resort’s surface is helping to set a new standard for environmental sustainability.
The entire destination has achieved Phase 1 LEED Platinum Cities certification, the first development in the region to do so.
St Regis Resort
Marriott International announced its partnership with The Red Sea International Company to develop two luxury hotels as part of the highly anticipated Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia.
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort is expected to enhance Marriott International’s footprint across the Kingdom as it currently owns more than 30 hotels with more than 9,000 rooms across ten brands.
The resort is located on a private island, and is expected to include 90 villas, two distinct restaurants, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and a spa, in addition to a kids club, and is expected to open in 2023.
The exclusive resort will offer the visionary spirit of the brand, pioneering style and expert service.
Nujoma Ritz-Carlton Reserve
The reserve is set to open this year and will be the first community of its kind in the Middle East and joins a group of just five Ritz-Carlton reserves worldwide.
The resort will feature 63 water and beach villas from one to four bedrooms, in addition to swimming pools, multiple dining venues, a retail area and a range of entertainment offerings.
The destination will also include 18 residential units under the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand.
Red Sea International Airport
Being a development that relies heavily on innovative technologies, it is not surprising that the Red Sea project prioritized opening a carbon-neutral airport during the first phase. The airport will be completely powered by 100% renewable energy.
The uniquely rejuvenated airport, designed by international architecture firm Foster + Partners to provide an unforgettable flying experience.
The project is on track to welcome its first passengers in 2023, with the potential to serve an estimated 1 million domestic and international tourists annually by 2030 – at a peak rate of 900 passengers per hour.
In October of 2022, Red Sea International appointed DAA International to operate the airport. DAA International will oversee the design, management and operations consultancy in accordance with the provisions of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and the International Civil Aviation Organization.