Scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2023, the Red Sea Project is greeting the new year with four major tourist destinations to be fully functional in the next few months.

The destination, which is being developed by Red Sea Global, sits over 28,000 km2 of pristine lands and waters and is committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing the natural environment.

By 2030, the gigaproject will be home to 50 hotels, 8,000 rooms, up to 1,000 residential properties, and its own international airport.

In the meantime, here are four developments expected to open its doors in Phase One.

Six Senses Southern Dunes

This Red Sea resort is one of the two inland locations in Phase One of The Red Sea Project, designed by Foster+Partners and renowned for its eco-credentials. The architectural approach pays homage to the Nabataean heritage and majestic desert and sand dunes surroundings.

Similarly, the design of the resort utilises sustainable and lightweight materials that reflect the textures of the Saudi Arabian desert.

The base structure is a modular, precast system that ensures the building only touches the ground lightly to leave most of the site undisturbed, with minimal paving to ensure the surrounding pathways remain natural and authentic.

Moreover, the engineering under the surface helps the resort set a new standard for environmental sustainability. The entire destination has secured the first stage of LEED for Cities Platinum certification and is the first development in the region to do so.

St. Regis Red Sea Resort

In October of 2021, Marriott International announced its partnership with Red Sea Global 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 further enhance Marriott International’s footprint across the kingdom where it currently has a portfolio of over 30 properties with more than 9,000 rooms across ten brands.

Situated on a private island, the resort is expected to feature 90 villas, two signature restaurants, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre, and a spa, in addition to a Children’s Club. Expected to open in 2023, the exclusive resort will offer the brand’s visionary spirit, avant-garde style and bespoke service.

Nujuma Ritz Carlton Reserve

In May of 2022, Mariott International signed an agreement with Red Sea Global to debit its Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand off the west coast of Saudi Arabia.

The Nujuma resort is scheduled to open this year and will be the first property from the brand in the Middle East and joins a collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide.

The resort will have 63 one- to four-bedroom water and beach villas, in addition to a spa, swimming pools, multiple dining venues, a retail area, a conservation centre and a range of leisure and entertainment offerings. The destination will also include 18 Ritz-Carlton Reserve branded residences.

Red Sea International Airport

As a development heavily reliant on innovative technologies, it is no surprise that the Red Sea project prioritised the opening of its carbon-neutral airport during the first phase.

Fully powered by 100% renewable energy, the airport is uniquely regenerative, designed by international architectural firm Foster + Partners to provide an unforgettable aviation experience.

The project is on track to welcome its first passengers in 2023, with capabilities to serve an estimated one million domestic and international tourists per year by 2030 – at a peak of 900 travellers per hour.

In October of 2022, Red Sea Global appointed daa International to operate the RSI airport. daa International will be overseeing design consultancy, management, and operations in accordance with the provisions of the General Authority of Civil Aviation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GACA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).