Red Sea Global has delivered a progress update on works at Ummahat Islands – part of The Red Sea destination – which are now almost at the point of welcoming guests.
The Islands will be home to two highly exclusive Marriott properties – the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, which is now 93% completed, and Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, 87% completed at time of writing.
Surrounded by crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches and an abundance of thriving coral reefs, guests of the island will experience new levels of luxury, marrying the very best of The Red Sea with the incredible natural beauty of the Red Sea coast.
Home to a thriving water sports center, guests will enjoy a wide range of water-based activities at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort.
From thrilling water sports like sailing, windsurfing and kayaking through mangrove forests, to dining in world-class overwater restaurants and relaxing in our premium wellness areas, there is so much to see and do.
Diving is the biggest draw for guests at Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, with a state-of-the-art diving center facilitating a range of undersea activities.
Guests can explore what lies beneath one of the most untouched and protected archipelagoes on the planet, by taking diving lessons, going on deep-sea heritage diving excursions and snorkeling around the outer reef.
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort marks Marriott’s introduction into the kingdom, and it brings Maldives-like glamour to Saudi Arabia.
The high-end property boasts 90 overwater and beachfront villas, each with a private pool. The new images showcase a modern, elegant aesthetic with beige, creams and white.
There are multiple room categories, which include a Coral Villa Sea View and Coral Villa Sunset View, each with round bathtubs facing the view. The Dunne Villa Sea View and Dunne Vila Sunset View are bright, airy rooms with large floor-to-ceiling windows. Plus, it comes in one, two, three and four bedrooms.
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort includes three restaurants, an outdoor pool, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a signature spa and a kid’s club. Plus, the property will include the hotel’s signature St. Regis Butler service.
Meanwhile, Nujuma will be the first property from the brand in the Middle East and joins an exclusive collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide.
Nujuma will offer a highly personalised leisure experience that “blends intuitive and heartfelt service with stunning natural beauty and indigenous design”. It will be the first property from the brand in the Middle East and joins an exclusive collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide.
“We are thrilled to bring our most luxurious brand, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and its exemplary experience to the Middle East. Perfectly situated on one of the most anticipated regenerative tourism projects in the world, the resort will blend seclusion and sophistication to provide a highly personalized luxury escape,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International.
Nujuma will be situated on a pristine set of private islands, which are part of the Red Sea’s Blue Hole cluster of islands. Surrounded by unspoiled natural beauty and designed to blend seamlessly with the environment, the resort is expected to feature 63 one to four bedroom water and beach villas.
Plans also include a range of luxurious amenities and exceptional services including a lavish spa, swimming pools, multiple culinary venues, a retail area and a variety of other leisure and entertainment offerings including a Conservation Center.
Ritz-Carlton Reserve offers a complete escape to the unexpected: a private and transformative travel experience that is centered around human connection and brings together unique elements of the local culture, heritage and environment.
“I am excited to welcome Ritz-Carlton Reserve into the fold of our luxury collection of brands for The Red Sea,” said John Pagano, CEO at The Red Sea Development Company.
“Around the world, Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties are synonymous with providing unique luxury experiences and creating personalized meaningful escapes, underpinned by a commitment to sustainable practices. As we inch closer to opening our first resorts early next year, this world-class brand is sure to excite and entice future guests.”
Finding the balance between international tourism and carbon sensitive travel
For the projects, the Red Sea Development Company has commissioned Aecom to create and sustain an environment that is rare, extraordinary and an exhilarating experience for both visitors and residents. Combining a luxury resort, a conservation project and a visionary approach to regenerative tourism.
The environmental pressures of tourism are key elements to be addressed in the global move towards Net Zero, reducing carbon footprint, offsetting, and enhancing awareness of environmental responsibility. Tourism, properly harnessed, can and must serve the needs of the environment if it is to be sustainable in the long term.
The low-lying Islands are located within a sensitive marine environment on The Red Sea coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Primarily surrounded by unspoiled, thriving coral, seagrass, and mangrove, set within an archipelago however, the islands are at risk of sea level rise, pollution, fishing, and lack of environmental management.
Aecom’s master plan has been informed by a comprehensive marine spatial planning simulation that projects a net positive conservation benefit of up to 30% within the next two decades. Sustainability has remained a core consideration and leading objective throughout the development of the scheme. Innovative action, including the 3D printing of coral structures and their propagation through micro fragmentation will offer greatly accelerated reef establishment for an ‘underwater garden’ and support net zero targets.
The Ummahat Al Shaykh Resort has been designed for a new wave of eco conscious, informed, and regenerative tourists. Offering an opportunity to create a culture that prioritises understanding of ecological habitats; their plants and animals and promotes not only their protection, but their enhancement. Inspired by the surrounding sandscapes and elemental atmosphere of wind and waves, this is a destination where preserving and developing the unique island biosphere is part of the educational guest experience.
No official date has yet been advanced for the official openings. SAFE will keep you up to date as soon as news comes to hand.
