Saudi Arabia’s tourism investments along the Red Sea coast are moving beyond individual luxury hotel projects toward an interconnected network of destinations. Following a series of resort openings in AMAALA and The Red Sea, the integration of marinas in the two destinations under a single operating system signals the emergence of a new tourism corridor along the country’s northwestern coast.
In September, Red Sea Global launched the Yachting Network, bringing AMAALA Marina and Shura Island Marina together under a unified operating network. Starting with the 2026 winter season, private and charter yachts will be able to travel between AMAALA and Shura Island under a single berthing agreement. The two marinas offer a combined 278 berths, with 119 at AMAALA Marina and 159 at Shura Island Marina. Both facilities can accommodate yachts measuring up to 120 meters. Red Sea Global plans to add further marinas and berthing facilities to the network in 2027.
The Red Sea Opens Up to Yachting Routes
The new network adds maritime mobility to the tourism model developing along the Red Sea coast. AMAALA Yacht Club, which began operations in September, aims to attract international yacht traffic to the Red Sea during the winter months, particularly vessels completing their summer season in the Mediterranean.
This infrastructure supports a travel model in which high-spending visitors can move between different destinations along the coast rather than remain at a single resort. Marina infrastructure is therefore evolving beyond a secondary service supporting luxury accommodation to become a key element connecting destinations.
Seven Resorts Operating in AMAALA
AMAALA, located at the northern end of the Red Sea corridor, welcomed its first guests in June 2026 with the opening of Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA. Accommodation capacity expanded rapidly throughout the year as international brands including Rosewood, Equinox and Nammos began operations. According to Red Sea Global's figures released on October 1, seven properties are operating in AMAALA, while 11 are open at The Red Sea destination. Including Thuwal Private Retreat, Red Sea Global's total number of operational properties has reached 19, with eight additional openings planned in the coming months.
AMAALA is not being developed solely as a luxury accommodation project. Wellness, marine tourism, yachting, gastronomy and residential developments are being brought together within a single destination. This approach also forms part of Saudi Arabia's strategy to encourage longer stays and attract visitors with a wider range of travel motivations along the Red Sea coast.
Shura Island Becomes the Center of New Capacity
Shura Island is at the center of expansion within The Red Sea destination. As of July, five hotels were operating on the island: The Red Sea EDITION, InterContinental The Red Sea Resort, SLS The Red Sea, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea, and Miraval The Red Sea. Red Sea Global plans to open six additional properties on Shura Island. Once completed, the island will become a broader tourism hub combining accommodation with marina facilities, golf, gastronomy, retail and entertainment.
This increase in capacity represents only the initial phase of The Red Sea project's long-term development. By its planned completion in 2030, the project aims to have 50 properties across 22 islands and six inland locations, offering approximately 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential units.
Air Connectivity Continues to Expand
Investment in air transport is also supporting the development of the new destination network along the Red Sea. Red Sea International Airport receives scheduled flights from Riyadh and Jeddah, as well as Dubai, Doha and Milan. As of September, the airport was handling approximately 20 domestic and international flights per week. Etihad Airways also launched its weekly service between Abu Dhabi and Red Sea International Airport on October 4, with plans to increase the frequency to twice weekly starting October 25.
AlWajh International Airport, which serves AMAALA, reopened in 2026 following an extensive renovation. Saudia operates three weekly flights from Riyadh and two from Jeddah to the airport. Taken together, the expanding hotel capacity, two marinas, international yachting network and improved air connections indicate that the next phase of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea strategy is not simply about opening more luxury resorts. The emerging corridor between AMAALA and Shura Island is creating an interconnected destination network that brings together different tourism offerings along the coast.
