Luxury, tourism, and sustainability. These are three things that The Red Sea ticks off with its groundbreaking strategy. Being built by Red Sea Global (RSG), a visionary developer owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the premier destination is along the country’s west coast. Spanning 28,000 square kilometers, The Red Sea is in a strategic location: It sits north of Jeddah, between the towns of Al Wajh and Umluj. With its own airport, Red Sea International (RSI) – which opened in September 2023 and had its first international flight in March 2024 – the rising tourism hub has only become more accessible.
Top-class resorts
The Red Sea is a vast archipelago, with over 90 islands. Among the islands designated for development are the Ummahat Islands, where two luxurious, world-class resorts were established. The St. Regis Red Sea Resort welcomed guests in January 2024, and in May of the same year, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, opened.
Shura Island is considered the hub of The Red Sea. It’s home to the highest number of hotels in the destination with 11 well-known brands. Another highlight of the island is the kingdom’s first-ever 18-hole island golf course – including holes on the water. Shura Links sits on a 140-hectare site, boasting impeccable marina views and fairways framed by the breathtaking Red Sea.
Sheybarah Island is another notable development. The furthest from the mainland, it features a 30-to-40-meter reef drop-off. It’s also the venue of Shebara Resort, RSG’s fully owned and operated hotel brand. Apart from island destinations, The Red Sea also has two inland locations: Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, and Desert Rock.
Desert Rock, nestled between the mountains that overlook the Red Sea coast, was designed with 64 keys, including 54 villas and 10 suites. The resort is RSG’s second fully owned and operated hotel brand.
Branded residences
As the hub of The Red Sea, Shura Island is home to 11 of the destination’s 16 hotels:
• Grand Hyatt The Red Sea (430 keys)
• The Red Sea Edition (240 keys)
• InterContinental The Red Sea (210 keys)
• Fairmont The Red Sea (193 keys)
• Rosewood Red Sea (187 keys)
• Miraval The Red Sea (180 keys)
• Four Seasons Resort, Red Sea (180 keys)
• Raffles The Red Sea (168 keys)
• Jumeirah The Red Sea (159 keys)
• SLS The Red Sea (150 keys)
• Faena The Red Sea (150 keys)
RSG-operated unbranded Residences include the Shura Marina Residences.
Expanding Red Sea Residences’ portfolio
These new developments are part of RSG’s growing collection of branded and unbranded luxury residential offerings that complement its world-class resorts. Every residence built by RSG follows its responsible development approach. Both The Red Sea and AMAALA are powered by 100 percent renewable energy, including the residences.
Added to this, the destinations are going beyond sustainability to have a regenerative impact on the environment. By 2040, RSG plans to achieve a 30 percent net conservation benefit for local ecosystems.
This will be accomplished by enhancing biologically diverse habitats such as mangroves, seagrass, corals, and land vegetation, promoting biodiversity while contributing to carbon sequestration.
The Red Sea destination, which is rapidly becoming one of the world’s most sought-after locations, has been welcoming guests since 2023 and now has five hotels open.
The dedicated international airport, Red Sea International, means residents always have quick and easy access to their homes. RSG is on track to complete all 16 hotels that make up Phase One of The Red Sea in 2025.
On sustainability and preservation
The Red Sea also puts a premium on sustainability and preservation. By 2040, it aims to deliver a 30 percent net conservation benefit to local ecosystems. The Red Sea, home to thriving reefs and diverse marine life, is also dedicated to protecting the ocean.
For instance, during COP28 in 2023, RSG unveiled its Coral Commitment in collaboration with the Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP). On the sustainability front, The Red Sea, once completed, aims to run on 100 percent renewable energy.
This achievement will be powered by several renewable energy initiatives, including one of the world’s largest off-grid battery storage facilities, with a capacity of 1,200 MWh and already enables the existing resorts and infrastructure to operate off-grid. The destination also champions sustainable transport, as it is home to the kingdom’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The network has over 160 charging stations to power a fleet of more than 100 EVs.
In support of Vision 2030
With The Red Sea, RSG is no doubt at the forefront of Saudi Arabia’s tourism revolution. Showcasing its dedication to realizing the goals of Vision 2030 and cementing its position as a key driver of the property boom in Saudi Arabia, RSG was one of the key exhibitors at the 2024 Cityscape Global. Cityscape Global, held in November in Riyadh, “attracted top-tier international investors and developers due to the exciting opportunities available in Saudi Arabia, one of the fastest-growing real estate markets worldwide.”
This is according to Rachel Sturgess, senior vice president at Tahaluf, the event’s organizer. “The event provided a unique platform for global industry leaders to connect with key stakeholders from Saudi mega projects and explore opportunities with innovative international developers,” she added in an interview with Economy Middle East.
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