Six years after its grand unveiling, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Red Sea project is now on the brink of welcoming its first guests.
One of the most anticipated openings is Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve which will be situated on the Red Sea’s Blue Hole cluster of islands.
The first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the region, Red Sea has now shared a glimpse of the opulent property.
An ultra-luxury private sanctuary
Surrounded by natural beauty and designed to blend with the environment, the resort which is expected to be up and running in 2023, will feature 63 one-to-four-bedroom water and beach villas.
Plans also include a range of amenities and services including a spa, swimming pools, multiple culinary venues, a retail area, and a variety of other leisure and entertainment offerings including a Conservation Center.
Dedicated to underwater exploration, the property will feature a diving centre that will offer everything from deep-sea heritage diving excursions to snorkelling around the island’s outer reef.
This ultra-luxury private sanctuary will blend “seclusion and sophistication to provide a highly personalised luxury escape” as per a statement from Marriott’s chief development officer Jerome Briet.
Nothing is a ‘no’ for this property
With only five Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties in the world, regional COO Sandeep Walia had told Hotelier Middle East that “nothing is a ‘no’ for these properties.” Walia had added, “We want everybody in the region to know about this brand. It is among the most luxurious leisure brands in the group. They are standalone destinations. You’ve never find a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in a city centre, for example.”
According to multi-property general manager Tony Coveney, the hotels will have no comparison.
Coveney in a recent interview had told Hotelier Middle East: “We are setting a new standard at the Red Sea. We don’t have a competitive set, instead, we’re looking to the Maldives and parts of the UAE.”
He explained: “Many of my Saudi friends tell me stories of how they visit Maldives every year but in 2024 they’d rather visit Red Sea. They are proud of their country, they want to spend their money here.
The Red Sea Project
The Red Sea Project is an ambitious regenerative tourism project, covering 28,000 square kilometers on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, of which less than one percent will be developed. The destination is expected to offer a new type of barefoot luxury experience and is being developed with the highest standards of sustainability. The development features an archipelago of more than 90 untouched natural islands, as well as dormant volcanoes, sweeping desert dunes, mountains and wadis, and more than 1,600 cultural heritage sites. Read about all the hotels coming to the Red Sea here.