This might carry the overall quantity to 25 resorts, Ahmad Darwish, Group Chief Administrative Officer for Crimson Sea World informed Arabian Enterprise in an unique interview.
“Investor curiosity is not only sturdy, it’s surging. The worldwide investor group is keenly conscious of the distinctive alternatives Crimson Sea World provides throughout tourism, infrastructure, healthcare, and actual property,” Darwish mentioned.
Saudi Crimson Sea World to bear “continued evolution”
The dominion’s tourism developer has opened 5 resorts at The Crimson Sea vacation spot over the previous 12 months, together with Desert Rock and Shebara in This autumn 2024.
These be part of Thuwal Non-public Retreat, described as “a secluded Crimson Sea island getaway off the coast of Jeddah”, representing the primary resorts solely owned and operated by Crimson Sea World.
“We’re demonstrably open for enterprise, and the response has been exceptional, with buyers actively looking for alternatives to take part. We now have a strong pipeline of main offers underway, reflecting the arrogance in our imaginative and prescient and execution.”
The subsequent 6 to 12 months will see “continued evolution” of Crimson Sea World’s choices, Darwish mentioned, including that the corporate is getting ready to open extra resorts at The Crimson Sea, together with the opening of resorts on Shura Island, the naturally dolphin-shaped hub of The Crimson Sea vacation spot.
“We’re on the cusp of opening much more spectacular resorts at The Crimson Sea, additional solidifying its place as a premier world vacation spot.”
Shura Island will function 11 world-class resorts set to open this yr, with sustainable designs corresponding to ‘Coral Bloom’ impressed by thriving coral reefs. The island is accessible through Saudi Arabia’s longest overwater bridge, lower than one hour’s drive from Crimson Sea Worldwide Airport.
“The a lot awaited launch of Section Certainly one of AMAALA can also be on the horizon, promising to redefine wellness and luxurious journey on a worldwide scale,” Darwish mentioned, including that the island will function a sequence of lagoons, seashores, and dunes, with an 18-hole championship golf course and a yacht marina on one facet.
The interval may even see the grand opening of Shura Hyperlinks, the Kingdom’s first-ever island golf course, additional solidifying The Crimson Sea’s place as a world-class vacation spot.
“Past these milestones, we’ll be considerably increasing our regenerative initiatives, demonstrating our unwavering dedication to regenerative tourism and redefining the way forward for journey – with individuals and planet on the forefront,” Darwish mentioned.
“Count on to see thrilling new partnerships and collaborations introduced, additional amplifying our community and experience. And eventually, we’ll be unveiling much more alternatives to personal a bit of paradise with additional bulletins relating to our unique residential choices,” he added.
Crimson Sea World opens 5 resorts, AMAALA wellness vacation spot ‘on monitor’
The present operational resorts are Nujuma, The St. Regis, Six Senses Southern Dunes, Shebara, Desert Rock, and Thuwal Non-public Retreat.
“These resorts usually are not simply luxurious; they’re a testomony to our dedication to sustainability and genuine Saudi hospitality,” Darwish defined.
“The Crimson Sea vacation spot provides a various vary of experiences, from luxurious beachfront stays to immersive desert adventures, all whereas adhering to our regenerative requirements, and meticulously built-in environmental sensitivities.”
AMAALA, the corporate’s wellness vacation spot, stays firmly on monitor to open by year-end, with key infrastructure and lodges prepared.
The vacation spot is backed by hospitality manufacturers together with Jayasom, Rosewood, Six Senses, Equinox, 4 Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, Clinique La Prairie, and Nammos.
Crimson Sea World improvement part: 16 lodges deliberate for 2025
Crimson Sea Worldwide Airport has been operational since September 2023, offering seamless journey connections.
“The Crimson Sea, having welcomed its first company in 2023, is repeatedly enhancing its distinctive desert and island experiences,” he added.
The corporate is on monitor to finish all 16 lodges for Section Certainly one of The Crimson Sea in 2025. AMAALA is progressing quickly in direction of its late-2025 opening, specializing in cutting-edge infrastructure for transformative wellness.
Key developments embody Corallium, a marine analysis hub, and the AMAALA Yacht Membership, each selling oceanic preservation. “In easy phrases, our developments are setting new world benchmarks,” Darwish mentioned.
Saudi Arabia’s Crimson Sea World targets 1.5 million guests yearly
As well as, Crimson Sea World can also be anticipating that The Crimson Sea and AMAALA will collectively host over one million guests yearly as soon as totally operational.
These numbers have been purposefully capped to keep away from over-tourism, making certain preservation of pure magnificence and ecological integrity whereas delivering visitor experiences.
“We anticipate that The Crimson Sea and AMAALA will collectively host 1.5 million guests yearly, contributing considerably to the Kingdom’s tourism sector,” Darwish mentioned including, that the corporate initiatives it’s going to contribute $5.3 billion yearly to the Kingdom’s financial system from 2030 onwards and create 120,000 jobs straight and not directly throughout each locations.
Apart from this, Crimson Sea World additionally serves as a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s Imaginative and prescient 2030, contributing to financial diversification and creating alternatives for younger Saudis.
“We’re making Imaginative and prescient 2030’s ambitions for nationwide transformation and financial diversification operational realities for the individuals of Saudi Arabia,” he defined.
In 2024, the Kingdom recorded 30 million worldwide arrivals, a brand new document in comparison with simply over 17.5 million in 2019.
Saudi Arabia’s goal has additionally been elevated from internet hosting 100 million guests yearly by 2030 to 150 million.
“It’s extremely rewarding to see our locations making a tangible and optimistic impression on these targets,” Darwish defined, including that the corporate is “deeply dedicated to supporting Imaginative and prescient 2030 and sit up for increasing our efforts to contribute even additional to its success.”
The corporate can also be pioneering a brand new mannequin of regenerative tourism, actively regenerating the Crimson Sea ecosystem whereas benefiting native communities and the Saudi financial system beneath Imaginative and prescient 2030.
“As guardians of this treasured surroundings, we’re proving that luxurious journey and environmental stewardship can’t solely coexist however thrive collectively. With our vertically built-in enterprise mannequin, we guarantee each worth creation and high-quality supply,” he added.
120,000 employment alternatives and coaching packages
As Group Chief Administrative Officer, Darwish defined how he additionally prioritises constructing a talented workforce aligned with regenerative tourism.
The corporate provides 16 packages together with instructional, vocational, and on-the-job coaching offering profession pathways. Up to now, 1,995 college students have benefited from these packages.
In February 2024, Crimson Sea World launched The Crimson Sea Nationwide Academy, aiming to coach 10,000 people by 2030 in partnership with TVTC and Faculties of Excellence.
The corporate’s Vocational Coaching Program celebrated the commencement of its third batch in June, comprising 466 college students, with 52.4 per cent being feminine graduates.
Crimson Sea Worldwide Airport has additionally already employed 122 younger Saudis, many from packages just like the Vocational Coaching Program, Elite Graduate Coaching Program, and Crimson Sea Scholarship.
“Total, we’re set to create 120,000 jobs, contributing SAR33 billion yearly to the financial system. Past our sustainable and accountable developments, our dedication extends deeply to empowering individuals and communities,” Darwish mentioned. “We’re actively investing in vocational coaching packages, corresponding to our current settlement with Oracle to coach 5,000 Saudi residents,” he added.
The Social Improvement group additionally engages native communities by way of initiatives just like the Crimson Sea Traditional Crusing Race, preserving maritime heritage and transferring conventional boat-building expertise to Saudi youth, alongside specialised craft workshops. The corporate has strengthened ties by way of conferences with Governors of surrounding cities.
“We actively search partnerships with like-minded organizations,” Darwish mentioned.
“In Might, we partnered with SEK Schooling Group to open faculties at The Crimson Sea and AMAALA by 2025-2026, providing the Worldwide Baccalaureate program. This helps Imaginative and prescient 2030 by elevating schooling requirements and fostering financial diversification,” he defined.
Furthermore, the corporate not too long ago signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee (SOPC), represented by its business and group model, Group Saudi.
“This partnership outlines a shared dedication to welcoming Saudi Paralympic athletes to RSG’s locations, utilizing their participation and suggestions to form future sporting and leisure experiences that cater to all communities, no matter capacity or background.”
Crimson Sea World’s dedication to environmental sustainability is demonstrated by way of a number of initiatives.
The corporate launched Botanica, which has already equipped over 7 million vegetation for landscaping locations, with a goal of 30 million by 2030.
“Our management in sustainable improvement is underscored by reaching Saudi Arabia’s first LEED Platinum lodge certification. Our locations are powered by 100 per cent renewable vitality, generated by 760,500 photo voltaic panels and saved in one of many world’s largest off-grid battery services with a 1,200 MWh capability,” Darwish added.
“We’ve additionally carried out superior clear mobility options, together with EVs, e-bikes, and hydrogen-powered ferries,” he mentioned.
The Coral Gardening Undertaking has achieved success by nurturing and replanting 98,000 corals in new underwater habitats from 2021 to 2023, reaching a excessive survival charge.
The corporate has additionally put in 30 synthetic nesting websites to help in defending weak Sooty falcons.
Nevertheless, working a giga-project of this scale presents distinctive administrative challenges, Darwish mentioned.
“Managing huge complexity and scale throughout quite a few groups like development, hospitality, and surroundings, which may be seen as a serious hurdle.”
The corporate addresses these challenges by leveraging know-how together with superior mission administration software program, digital workflows, and real-time information analytics for seamless communication.
“One other problem is embedding sustainability as a core precept, which requires meticulous planning from accountable sourcing to waste administration, consistently exploring new finest practices,” Darwish mentioned.
“Lastly, deep group engagement is essential; we construct sturdy relationships and create alternatives for employment and improvement, recognising that our success is linked to native well-being.”
Laheq Island improvement and property gross sales
On the actual property entrance, the corporate efficiently launched Crimson Sea Residences, that includes properties on Shura Island and the not too long ago unveiled Laheq Island, with almost 20 per cent of the houses having been bought.
Scheduled to open in 2028, Laheq Island will redefine luxurious residing with unique residential choices, in response to Darwish.
“The profitable launch of our residential portfolio, Crimson Sea Residences, that includes properties on Shura Island and the not too long ago unveiled Laheq Island, has generated vital curiosity from native, regional, and worldwide patrons,” Darwish mentioned.
“This solidifies Crimson Sea World’s place as a frontrunner in revolutionary and accountable improvement. We’re consistently exploring new alternatives to broaden our portfolio and elevate our choices,” Darwish concluded.
