First announced by Crown Prince and Chairman of the Neom Board of Directors Mohammed bin Salman in December 2022, Sindalah, the luxury island destination and first physical showcase of Neom, has been unveiled by the city’s Board of Directors.
The resort’s completion, two years in the making, marks a significant step in realising the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions under the Saudi Vision 2030 an ambitious development program started by Bin Salman in an attempt to diversify the country’s economy from oil. To celebrate this occasion, Sindalah has welcomed its first wave of invited guests to experience the island’s allure.
Located in the glistening azure waters of the Red Sea, five kilometres off the Neom coastline in northwest Saudi Arabia, island destination is a luxury resort spread over 840,000 square metres. Positioned 17 hours by sea from key Mediterranean destinations, Sindalah will serve as Neom’s gateway to the Red Sea, providing easy access for European, Saudi and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) yacht owners.
The resort blends the natural beauty of the island with tech-driven design and architectural excellence. Designed by yachting architecture firm, Luca Dini, the island offers world-class restaurants, hotels, venues and experiences. Set to welcome up to 2,400 guests per day by 2028, it will also generate around 3,500 jobs, helping to drive the ongoing development of the Kingdom’s hospitality and tourism industries, thereby supporting diversification of the economy in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
“Neom is committed to supporting the Kingdom’s new era of luxury tourism, with the opening of Sindalah”, said Neom CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr. This is a proud chapter in the Neom story and we are excited to achieve more of our ambitious goals, with the continued support of His Royal Highness. Neom’s inaugural destination offers visitors a ‘first glimpse’ of what the future holds for our extensive portfolio of destinations and developments.”
Boasting an impressive marine ecosystem, Sindalah’s surrounding waters are home to 1,100 species of fish – 45 of which are unique to Neom waters, in addition to more than 300 coral species. In line with the city’s commitment to sustainability and conservation, preservation of Sindalah’s natural marine habitat has been central to the island’s development, and guests are invited to dive beneath the surface to explore its wonders for themselves.
With its year-round pleasant climate, Sindalah’s 86-berth marina will usher in a new season of sailing. The Sindalah Yacht Club, with interiors designed by Stefano Ricci, sits as the marina’s focal point and invites yachting guests, owners and crew to enjoy its amenities. Docking facilities, additional offshore buoys for super yachts and a full suite of yacht management services are also available.
The Village and Promenade is the beating heart of the island’s entertainment and social zones, home to 38 culinary offerings backed by world-renowned chefs, as well as daytime eateries, late-night venues and 36 luxury retail outlets. The Beach Club offers poolside lounging by day and music experiences by night, while the beachfront Golf Club provides an elevated golfing experience for all abilities. With its world-class 6,474-yard (5,920-metre) par 70 course, the Golf Club will offer 18 teeing points and two unique nine-hole experiences.
Future guests will choose their accommodation preferences from a range of properties, offering 440 rooms and 88 villas, as well as 218 luxury serviced apartments. Information regarding bookings will soon be made available through Neom’s tourism channels.
Neom is one of the mega-projects that the gulf country is building as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. Despite recent doubts over the completion of the “city of the future” and of the Line, a 170-km-long belt of skyscrapers in the middle of the dessert, in particular, Saudi Arabia has promised all the projects will go ahead as planned and Sindalah’s opening marks an important milestone in the project’s progress.
