Arab News, Wednesday, Dec 07, 2022 | Jamadi Al Awwal 13, 1444
Crown Prince announces Sindalah, NEOM’s first luxury island development
Saudi Arabia:
NEOM’s first luxury island destination Sindalah will play host to superyachts
and top-end apartments, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman revealed as he
announced the latest project set to boost Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry.
Extending over an area of approximately 840,000sq.
m., Sindalah is one of a group of islands that will be developed in the
giga-project, and is expected to create 3,500 jobs for the tourism sector and
hospitality and leisure services.
The island will act as a main gateway to the Red
Sea, offering bespoke nautical experiences and is expected to start welcoming
guests from early 2024, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The Crown Prince said: “This is another
significant moment for NEOM and a major step in the Kingdom realizing its
tourism ambitions under Vision 2030.
“Sindalah will be NEOM’s first luxury island and
yacht club destination in the Red Sea, providing a scenic gateway to the Red Sea
that will become the region’s most exciting and attractive tourism location.
“It will be a destination where travelers can
experience the true beauty of NEOM and Saudi Arabia, above and below the water,
making Sindalah the future of luxury travel.”
Speaking to Arab News, Chris Newman, executive
director of hotel development at NEOM, set out the range of events and activites
that the island will see once it has opened.
"Sindalah expects to host sophisticated cultural
events, grand sporting spectacles and glamorous social celebrations throughout
the year," he said, adding "There will be a year-round calendar of imaginative
experiences, curated across various seasons."
These will include a social season from December
to February which will offer guests access to exclusive music concerts, art and
culture events, hosted in inspiring creative venues.
The 'Glamour season' will run from March to May,
and then from October and November, and will coinciding with the peak yachting
event season. gGuests will enjoy exclusive access to concerts, fashion and
culinary festivals as part of the glamour season.
The active season from June to September will
offer guests a range of family-friendly beach and recreational activities.
"Sindalah is one of many islands in NEOM. There
are additional islands in development, and we will make the announcements in due
course as more information becomes available," Newman added/
Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the chairman of
NEOM’s Board of Directors, said the launch of Sindalah is a major step in
realizing the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions, in line with the goals outlined in
Vision 2030.
Sindalah will have an 86-berth marina, as well as
hosting 413 ultra-premium hotel rooms, in addition to 333 top-end serviced
apartments.
Other attractions in Sindalah include a luxe beach
club, yacht club and 38 unique culinary offerings that will provide an
incomparable experience in the Red Sea.
Sindalah is also expected to become a popular
golfing destination by offering enthusiasts the opportunity to experience a
world-class 6,474-yard (5,920 meters) par 70 course. With its 18 tees, the
Sindalah golf course will deliver two unique nine-hole experiences.
NEOM, the $500 billion smart city, is one of the
most important projects supporting Saudi Arabia’s national tourism strategy, as
the Kingdom steadily diversifies its economy which was heavily dependent on oil
for decades.
In November, speaking at the World Travel and
Tourism Council Global Summit, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM said that the hanging
stadiums in the smart city will make tourists reimagine and visualize the
future.
“In The Line, we want people to come and see how
sports stadiums are built, and where they are built. The sports stadiums in NEOM
are 300 meter high, loose and hanging in the air,” said Al-Nasr.
He also added that OXAGON, the industrial city in
NEOM also has all the potential to become a world-class tourist destination,
where visitors can come and see how the future will be.
“It is in OXAGON where all industries will be, and
it is the port of NEOM. Yet, we would like to see tourists spending a day or two
in OXAGON. They will see the future of industries in OXAGON. Everything in NEOM
is built for the future era. We want them to come and see how future sea ports
will operate,” he added.