ALBAWABA - In an effort to position itself as the Red Sea's top destination for luxury travel, Saudi Arabia has unveiled Sindalah, a luxury island and the first stop on the $500 billion NEOM megaproject.
Sindalah, which took two years to develop, is an important milestone in the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and falls in line with Saudi Arabia's aims for economic diversification and international tourist appeal.
Sindalah has already had its first visitors, according to NEOM, the futuristic mega-city under development in northwest Saudi Arabia. Sindalah is a “gateway to the Red Sea” and the “first glimpse” of NEOM’s wider range of upscale locations and projects, said NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr.
Located 5 kilometers off the northwest coast of NEOM, Sindalah spans over 840,000 square meters and is projected to create 3,500 jobs by 2028, accommodating 2,400 visitors each day.
Sindalah's natural beauty is complemented with a rich marine ecology that includes more than 300 coral species and 1,100 fish species, 45 of which are unique to NEOM.
The amenities of Sindalah include 440 rooms, 88 villas, 218 premium serviced apartments, a yacht club, beach club, golf club, and docking possibilities. Sindalah offers super yacht berths and yacht management services in an effort to attract affluent tourists, strengthening its reputation as a place of luxury.
The National Tourism Strategy, which is a component of Saudi Vision 2030, has an aim of attracting 150 million tourists by the year 2030. This will result in an increase in the contribution of tourism to the GDP from 6% to 10%.
Although NEOM's ambitious aim has been questioned, Sindalah's debut demonstrates the Kingdom's advancement and commitment to achieving its aim 2030 objectives. NEOM, which is often in the spotlight for The Line, a distinctive 170-kilometer linear metropolis, hopes to raise the bar for environmental preservation and urban development worldwide.
