Unless you’ve been completely out of the loop for the past few years, it’s more than likely that you’ve heard of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s latest megaproject, NEOM. For the uninitiated, NEOM – a portmanteau of the words “Neo”, meaning “new” and the letter “M”, which refers to both the first letter of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s name and the first letter of the Arabic word for “future” – is the country’s long-term development venture to create a multi-regional, technologically- connected “smart city”, powered exclusively by renewable energy sources. The plan was proposed by Mohammed bin Salman at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh in 2017 and has an estimated cost of over $500 billion. Although the finalization date is projected to be in 2030, NEOM has constructed several buildings and structures over the past few years and aims to complete the first phase of the project by 2025, including the island of Sindalah.
Sindalah will be one of the first openings for the Kingdom’s revolutionary smart city and will sweep guests off the coast of the mesmerizing Red Sea to an international play space that will cover over 840,000 square meters of land. Assuring the finest amenities that a modern luxury resort can offer, Sindalah will boast an 86-berth marina and 75 offshore buoys to complete the entire nautical experience and become the newest hotspot for the world’s most magnificent vessels. Of course, it goes without saying that this will be accompanied by an exclusive yacht club, a glamorous beach club, and a variety of elite sea experiences such as snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and more.
Sindalah also hopes to establish a new home for international golfers with its proposed 5,920-meter, par- 70 course – in line with similar investments made by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) including the LIV Golf professional tour.
The island will prove to be one of the most alluring vacation spots in the region because of its connectivity to the Mediterranean and the spectacular year-round climate. In the company’s own words, Sindalah will be “a place where enhanced nature meets responsible design, advanced technology, and inspirational architecture” and will provide access to more than 600 native marine species in the surrounding Red Sea, allowing adventurers to explore biodiversity throughout the Middle East.
These natural elements will mesh perfectly with the commercial entertainment that we have become so accustomed to during the modern era. NEOM plans to host three world-class hotel resorts, offering over 400 rooms – including 88 villas – and over 300 serviced apartments. Sindalah will also include over 50 luxury retail outlets, several rooftop lounges, and 38 unique culinary offerings – not to mention numerous spa destinations and sports clubs scattered throughout the island.
Sindalah’s inauguration is just the beginning of the storm that NEOM is brewing in the Middle East, so be sure to stay updated throughout the next decade on the latest developments from the Kingdom’s megaproject!
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