It opened for the granting of tourist visas in 2019 (before you could go there almost exclusively for work reasons) and now theSaudi Arabia invests to attract more and more travelers, even by realizing a feat never seen before. They define it “The most ambitious and exciting tourism and hospitality project in the world”: and the Red Sea Project, a complex of 50 ultra-luxury resorts with 8000 hotel rooms and 1300 residential properties spread across 22 islands in the Red Sea, plus six inland sites between the cities of Umluj and Al Wajh that point to redefine sustainability standards in the hospitality industry.
It will be designed to mitigate carbon emissions, reduce waste (plastic, for example, will be banned) and at the same time reduce light and noise pollution. All thanks to light and eco materials, supply of clean energy supported by the largest battery storage system in the world (which will also power the largest cooling system ever seen), specific interventions to safeguard flora, fauna and coral reefs with the aim of maintaining the destination at a level of biodiversity equivalent to a marine protected area.
The first island on which the dream can be lived will be Shurayrah: a dolphin-shaped island where the starchitect’s studio Norman Foster will build the first 11 resorts with an evocative name «Coral Bloom», namely «Coral Bloom» which will give a significant taste of the final result. “The island of Shurayrah – said John Pagano, CEO of The Red Sea Development Company – is the gateway to the Red Sea Project, so it is important that it sets the standard in revolutionary architecture and sustainable design, not only for our destination, but also globally. This is achieved going beyond the simple protection of the environment, applying a regenerative approach»
Respect for biodiversity is central to the Shurayrah project: resorts, for example, will be built to avoid damaging the mangroves or other habitats on the island, while at the same time interventions will be carried out to protect it, such as new beaches that will help raise the ground level, providing a defensive layer against sea level rise. As for hotels, Gerard Evenden, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners, explained that “they will be designed to give the impression of having arrived on the beaches and nestled in the dunes almost like floating wood ». They will also be designed based on the expectations of post-Covid travelers: there will be plenty of space for each guest, there will be no corridors, and every detail will be thought of to make sure you fully enjoy nature. To ensure spectacular views, for example, there will be no skyscrapers. Nothing is known, for now, about the services, but the word “luxury” it often recurs in the description of the project launched by the prince Mohammed bin Salman in persona, therefore in the meantime one can fantasize.
The first four Shurayrah resorts will be ready to fine 2022, the date by which The Red Sea Project airport will also be completed, which will be reached in 8 hours by flight from the main destinations in the world. In 2030, however, the entire Red Sea Project should be completed: by that date the complex will include the entire road network, a marina, golf courses and any other possible service tailored to wealthy tourists. At that point, however, it might as well change the global tourism map.
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