After adding AMAALA to its portfolio, the Red Sea Development Co. is now on a grander mission, with the two projects estimated to contribute roughly SR33 billion ($8.8 billion) to the Saudi economy over the next five years.
TRSDC plans to open three additional hotels this year, with the first guests arriving in early 2023. By the end of next year, 13 more hotels will have opened their doors.
And there’s more. The Red Sea archipelago of 90 islands, which is home to the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef, will focus on sustainable tourism with a luxury touch. Nine worldwide brands have already joined the giga-project, with more to follow.
In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market, the international travel trade event in Dubai, John Pagano, CEO of TSDRC and AMAALA, said, “What’s interesting about what we’re doing is that it’s not a built-up urban region; it’s a section of Saudi Arabia that is unspoilt.”
“Next year, our first guests will have the option of choosing between two magnificent island resorts or a desert resort,” he continued.
The two island hotels are both boutique hotels with 80 and 90 rooms, respectively, in the hyper-luxury sector.
They would be serviced like high-end Maldives resorts and will appeal to discerning luxury guests.
One of the hotels will be operated by the St. Regis brand, while the other island resort will be disclosed soon, according to Pagano. The Six Senses group, which shares a dedication to green principles, will administer the desert resort.
