Saudi Arabia’s Neom project has been garnering a high level of buzz for some time. Headline-grabbing builds like The Line shot this ‘Giga Project’ into the news, however, things are starting to come to fruition as Neom’s first destination, Sindalah Island, has just welcomed its first guests.
Positioned as a brand-new luxury island destination, Sindalah was first announced in December 2022, and its opening looks to be a significant milestone for the wider project. Over two years Sindalah has effectively risen from a deserted piece of land to a glamorous new destination in The Red Sea, with a workforce of over 30,000 involved in construction at its peak.
“Neom is committed to supporting the Kingdom’s new era of luxury tourism, with the opening of Sindalah,” said Nadhmi Al-Nasr, chief executive officer of Neom. “The realization of this landmark destination, the gateway to the Red Sea, is due to the visionary leadership of His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Vision 2030. This is a proud chapter in the Neom story and we are excited to achieve more of our ambitious goals, with the continued support of His Royal Highness. Neom’s inaugural destination offers visitors a ‘first glimpse’ of what the future holds for our extensive portfolio of destinations and developments.”
Situated to Saudi Arabia’s northwest, five kilometers off the coast, the luxury resort of Sindalah spreads itself out across over 9 million sqft. Its position at the top of The Red Sea ensures this new destination is only 17 hours by sea from key Mediterranean ports. Vital given that Sindalah will be looking to capture some of the yachting crowd that has traditionally headed to the Caribbean during winter.
The island itself was designed by yachting architecture firm, Luca Dini, with the project looking to combine the natural beauty of the region with a technology-forward design and architectural theme. Home to a great swath of restaurants, hotels, venues and experiences, the hope is that Sindalah will become a key calendar destination for the yachting set, in much the same vein as Monaco, Cannes and the Bahamas.
Looking to welcome up to 2,400 guests per day by 2028, Sindalah brings the ambition that we have come to expect from projects under the Neom banner. In the near future, the island will offer 440 rooms, 88 villas and 218 luxury serviced apartments across a range of different properties.
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The island has also been designed with a sustainability focus. Situated in a region of high marine diversity, there are over 1,100 species of fish in addition to over 300 coral species in the area, with the preservation of this habitat being a key focus during both design and construction.
Custom built for yacht owners, Sindalah island is home to an 86-berth marina, and the Sindalah Yacht Club – with interiors by Stefano Ricci –which is the marina’s focal point, and provides facilities for owners, guests and crews from yachts of all sizes, including offshore buoys for super yachts.
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At Sindalah Island’s center, The Village and Promenade will act as the heart of the island’s entertainment and social zones. Here, 38 culinary offerings – some of them backed by world-renowned chefs – sit beside late-night venues and 36 luxury retail outlets. There is also a beach club offering poolside lounging by day and music experiences at night, in addition to a golf club with 18 teeing points and two nine-hole options.
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