Saudi Arabia is pushing tourism.
Leading the way to lure more visitors are luxury
destinations in the Middle East country.
It is introducing new luxury
properties blending tradition with modernity. Two chains in particular, Red Sea Global and NEOM, pace the
effort.
Red Sea Global is pioneering a brand-new luxury regenerative
tourism destination. The Red Sea is surrounded by the world's fourth-largest
barrier reef system and also features great beaches, dormant volcanos, sweeping
desert dunes, mountain canyons and historical cultural sites. Aiming to open 50
hotels by 2030, Red Sea Global opened the destination’s first two resorts Six
Senses Southern Dunes and St Regis Red Sea ahead of schedule, with more hotels
planned to launch throughout 2024 and 2025.
Sindalah Island, an exclusive luxury getaway on the Red Sea,
will be the first destination in NEOM,
to launch in 2024.
Here’s a look at some of the properties.
New Hotels in Saudi Arabia
1. Six Senses Southern Dunes – The resort has been
open for nearly six months. 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. The villas are arranged in two lines to take
advantage of views of the surrounding dunes. Rates
start at $1,300 per night.
2. Desert Rock Resort -- The hotel is an architectural masterpiece and sits fully integrated in
the mountainside, preserving its striking natural silhouette. Guests can even
stay in rooms carved out of the rock itself. All rooms offer undisrupted views
out to the horizon, allowing guests to admire the vast desert vistas that
stretch out ahead.
3. Marriott Autograph Collection, Sindalah Island, NEOM – This property is scheduled to open this spring. If you’re
looking for a property with more of a boutique feel, this is it. Plans for the resort include 66 rooms
and suites, including one- and two-bedroom villas. There will also be a dining
room and a club just for kids.
4. The St. Regis Red Sea Resort – The resort opened earlier this year on a private island. Accessed from the coast of
Saudi via chartered boat or seaplane, the Ummahat archipelago offers a
collection of 90 spacious overwater and beachfront villas, each with their own
private pool. Rates start at $1,320 per
night.
5. Nujuma, A Ritz
Carlton Reserve The Red Sea -- Nujuma will be the first
property from the brand in the Middle East and joins an exclusive collection of
only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide. When not soaking up the
tranquil surroundings from the comfort of their own villa, guests will be able
to indulge in a lavish spa, swimming pools, a range of restaurants and a retail
area.
6. Dar Tantora, AlUla – This one is barely two months old. It is an eco-lodge. The hotel sports 30 guest rooms
created by restoring and repurposing historical mud-brick buildings using
modern engineering in tandem with traditional materials and techniques. Rates start at $440 per night
7. Beit Jokhdar, Beit Al Rayess and Beit Kedwan, Al Balad, Jeddah – They’re already opened. The area in
which the three hotels are located has UNESCO heritage protection. Set in historic properties,
each hotel has been carefully reinvigorated thanks to a hand-picked team of
historians, local artists, carpenters and architects as well as locally sourced
products.
8. Bab Sahman, Diriyah -- Positioned in North Diriyah, the property is a short distance from both
scenic Wadi Hanifah and At-Turaif, one of Saudi’s most important historical
sights, so guests can really benefit from everything Diriyah has to offer.
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