Luxury hotels queue up for Saudi’s megaprojects

Located 500 kilometres north of Jeddah on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, the Red Sea project is emerging as the world’s next mega luxury destination.

Stretching across 200 kilometres of shoreline, the destination takes in more than 90 islands, desert dunes, mountain canyons. It is also home to one of the world’s few thriving coral reef ecosystems.

Of the 92 islands, only 22 are being developed. Nine are set aside as permanent conservation areas.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global, the developer behind the project, has pledged world-leading sustainability standards: at least 75% of all built-up areas will be green building certified and 100% of hotels and resorts will achieve LEED certification.

Developed by Foster + Partners, phase one of Shura Island will begin opening to guests this month, and includes the debut of SLS The Red Sea, Red Sea Edition, and InterContinental Red Sea Resort, along with Shura Links. Saudi Arabia’s first island golf course.

InterContinental Red Sea Resort is among the first batch of hotels to open in the massive Red Sea development

Other properties due to open include hotels by Faena, Fairmont, Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt, Jumeirah, Miraval, Raffles and Rosewood.

Guests will either arrive on Shura Island by boat to the island’s marina or by electric vehicle across the 3.3km Shura Crossing motorway, which includes Saudi Arabia’s longest water bridge.

Red Sea International Airport is the gateway to The Red Sea destination. Most recently it was announced that Qatar Airways will operate direct flights to RSI three times a week.

A two-hour drive north of the Red Sea Project, AMAALA is being promoted a new global wellness leader, with a collection of resorts due to open later this year. These include Four Seasons, Rosewood, Ritz-Carlton and the second global location for US-brand Equinox.

Average temperatures range between 20 degrees Celsius in winter to 33 degrees Celsius in summer.

International tourists from more than 65 countries can apply for an eVisa to visit Saudi Arabia. The eVisa is a one-year, multiple-entry visa, allowing tourists to stay up to 90 days in the country.