There was a time when the idea of Saudi Arabia as a luxury travel destination would have raised an eyebrow. The country’s sweeping deserts and unexplored coastlines existed beyond the world of high-end hospitality, its Red Sea waters known mostly to divers and fishermen. But that was before Vision 2030, when the kingdom set out to reimagine not only its economy, but its place on the world map.
At the heart of this shift in luxury travel is The Red Sea, a region long overshadowed by the Gulf’s glitzier developments. Its islands and reefs remain some of the most pristine on the planet, its landscapes more dramatic and its tourism plans more ambitious. Spearheaded by Red Sea Global (RSG), the project has already welcomed some of the world’s top hotel brands to this unspoiled stretch of coastline, with plenty more to come. Some rise above the shallows in mirrored orbs, others disappear into the cliffs, and all are pushing the boundaries of high-end travel in a place that, until now, few had ever thought to explore. Hana Al-Khodairi
