The Red Sea Project

The Red Sea Project is a global tourism destination stretching along the Red Sea coast in northwestern Saudi Arabia. It is developed by Red Sea Global, which was launched in 2018 as the developer of the Red Sea and Amaala destinations, and which places people and nature at the forefront of its work [1].

The destination spans more than 28,000 square kilometres and includes the world's fourth-largest flourishing coral reef [1]. It is classified among the giga-projects developed by the Public Investment Fund to stimulate and diversify the economy away from oil dependence, and its positive effects are expected to extend far beyond real-estate development and infrastructure [1].

By diversifying the economy and creating jobs in promising sectors such as tourism and hospitality, the project advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, while also enhancing environmental and cultural heritage [1]. By 2030, the destination aims to welcome one million visitors [1].

The St. Regis Red Sea Resort opened on 18 January 2024 as the second resort in the Red Sea destination, located on Ummahat Al Bakr Island in Al Wajh Lagoon, adding to Six Senses Southern Dunes, which had opened before it [4].

Red Sea International Airport is receiving domestic flights, and work is under way to open the Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort, alongside 21 new resorts over the following 18 months across the Red Sea and Amaala destinations [4].

Shura Island is the beating heart of the Red Sea destination, home to a group of international resorts developed under an integrated approach that balances environmental protection with world-class hospitality experiences [7]. The destination is preparing to open six further resorts on the island, all at advanced stages of obtaining LEED certification during the year [7].

On 9 July 2026, five resorts on the island obtained LEED Platinum certification, raising the number of hotels and resorts in the destination that hold it to ten, comprising 1,207 hotel units across a certified built area of 236,405 square metres, making Red Sea Global the developer with the largest number of hotels and resorts holding LEED Platinum certification in the world [7].

The Public Investment Fund launched the Amaala project in early 2019 as an ultra-luxury tourism destination on the Red Sea coast, built on a new concept of luxury travel centred on recuperation, health and wellness, and serving as one of the drivers of economic diversification, creating investment opportunities for the local private sector and attracting foreign direct investment in line with Saudi Vision 2030 [2].

On 11 November 2025, Red Sea Global officially unveiled the Amaala destination during the inaugural TOURISE summit. Investment in its first phase reached 51,004,000,000 Saudi riyals, and on completion it is expected to comprise eight resorts with about 1,600 hotel and residential units, relying entirely on 100% renewable energy and aiming for a net environmental benefit of 30% by 2040 [5].

On 15 June 2026, the Amaala destination was inaugurated with the opening of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Amaala in the Triple Bay area, which is set to include more than 1,600 hotel rooms across nine upscale resorts [6].

On 25 July 2023, a partnership with Equinox was announced to create the Equinox Amaala resort in the Amaala destination, comprising 128 rooms, as part of an effort to increase the value of environmental diversity by up to 30% by 2040 [3].

Q: What is The Red Sea Project? A: It is a global tourism destination on the Red Sea coast in northwestern Saudi Arabia, developed by Red Sea Global, spanning more than 28,000 square kilometres and including the world's fourth-largest flourishing coral reef [1].

Q: Which two destinations does Red Sea Global develop? A: The Red Sea destination and the Amaala destination [1][2].

Q: What is the visitor target for the Red Sea destination? A: To welcome one million visitors by 2030 [1].

Q: What are the most prominent milestones in the development of the Amaala destination? A: The launch of the project in early 2019, its official unveiling on 11 November 2025 with an initial investment of 51,004,000,000 Saudi riyals, and its inauguration on 15 June 2026 with the opening of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Amaala [2][5][6].

Q: What is Shura Island's place in the destination? A: It is the beating heart of the Red Sea destination, home to a group of international resorts, and five resorts there obtained LEED Platinum certification on 9 July 2026 [7].

The project brings together two integrated destinations, world-class resorts and an international airport, with announced targets extending to 2030, among the giga-projects led by the Public Investment Fund in the Kingdom [1][4][7]. Related topics on the platform include Tabuk Region, within whose scope the two destinations fall, and NEOM, one of the giga-projects in northwestern Saudi Arabia.