RED SEA: BOLD AND ICONIC

THE groundbreaking Red Sea Project is making steady progress towards its goal of becoming a leading global tourism destination, with construction well under way on a range of luxury resorts and supporting infrastructure, according to a senior official of Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer of regenerative tourism developments along the kingdom's western coast.

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The first phase of the multibillion-dollar development is aimed to be completed by the end of this year. This includes 16 resorts, an international airport, and related infrastructure. Five resorts are already operational, and construction is in the advanced stages on the remainder, Fahad Al Balawi, Head of Construction at RSG, tells Gulf Construction's Bina Goveas in an exclusive interview.

"By the time Phase One is fully open, we'll have around 3,000 hotel keys in operation across The Red Sea destination," he reveals.

Al Balawi says the total value of construction contracts awarded to date exceeds SAR32 billion ($8.5 billion) across more than 1,300 contracts, with around 70 per cent of the value awarded to Saudi companies. Major local firms involved include Al-Ayuni, Al Rawabi, and the Saudi Binladin Group.

Flagship resorts such as Six Senses Southern Dunes, The St Regis Red Sea Resort, and Shebara Resort on Sheybarah Island have already opened and the focus is now on completing the remaining 11 hotels on Shura Island, the project's main hub. These include renowned brands such as Raffles, SLS, Rosewood, Faena, Fairmont, Grand Hyatt, and Miraval.

"Construction on Shura Island is in its final stages," Al Balawi confirms.

Infrastructure like the marina and golf course is well-advanced, and RSG remains on track to complete all 16 hotels of Phase One by the end of 2025, with gradual openings planned throughout the year.

Last month, RSG unveiled yet another concept with the launch of Laheq Island, a new "lifestyle destination" within the Red Sea archipelago that will offer an exclusive blend of private ownership, hospitality, and sustainability. The announcement marks a significant evolution of RSG's vision, moving beyond resort-focused developments towards creating integrated resort-residential island communities (See Saudi Focus).