Sindalah
Sindalah
سندالة (Arabic) | |
---|---|
Island | |
Coordinates: 28°2′49″N 34°42′47″E / 28.04694°N 34.71306°E | |
Country | Saudi Arabia |
Province | Tabuk |
City | Neom |
Announced Opened | December 5, 2022[1] 27 October 2024[2] |
Founded by | Mohammed bin Salman |
Government | |
• Chied Urban Planning Officer | Antoni Vives |
Area | |
• Total | 0.84 km2 (0.32 sq mi) |
Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Time zone | UTC+03 (Arabian Standard Time) |
Website | www |
Sindalah (stylized SINDALAH; Arabic: سندالة) is a luxury island destination in Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia. Sindalah is one of the various announced regions in Neom City. The island covers a total area of 840,000 m2 (9 million sq ft).[3] Sindalah opened its doors to visitors in October 2024, making it the first Neom region to be completed.[4][5]
The luxury island is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 efforts to establish a strong tourism industry and is expected to create 3,500 jobs.[6] Sindalah aims to attract 2,400 visitors per day by the year 2028.[7]
Design
[edit]The island is 20 acres in size and was designed by Luca Dini who sought it to be akin to a village of luxury resorts.[8][2] The island has a sports club, spa and wellness center, more than 51 luxury retail outlets, a golf course, and 38 restaurants, 12 of which are run by Michelin star chefs including Carlo Cracco, as well as an MasterChef partnership.[2][9][10] Dini wanted the island to also blend into the coral reefs and clear waters of the Red Sea.[2] The island incorporates "interactive" quartz pillars to sensory experiences and includes thousands of coral pieces that where relocated from abroad to "enhance" the existing reef around the island.[2] The urban core of Sindalah is aptly called The Village and consists of luxury hotels and retail offerings.[11]
Sindalah was designed from the ground up to be a superyacht destination, namely to compete with yachting in the Caribbean as a winter destination.[2] The island's marina has 85 berths for yachts up to 165 feet, and buoys just outside the harbor to accommodate yachts up to 550 feet.[2][12] The island is 17 hours away from most Mediterranean yachting destinations and will act as NEOM’s entry point to the Red Sea - providing easy access for European, Saudi and GCC boat owners.[11]
History
[edit]Background
[edit]The island was officially announced in December 2022 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil.[13][14] About 40,000 workers worked on the Sindalah project.[2] The Saudi government hired four local contracting partners and up to 60 subcontractors.[11]
Following its announcement, several hotel projects are currently in the pipeline on Sindalah. Marriott International has signed a deal to open three properties in 2024, including a 70-key Luxury Collection beach resort, a 115-key Luxury Collection city hotel, and a 66-key Autograph Collection,[15] while a 277-key Four Seasons hotel is slated for opening in 2026.[16]
Opening
[edit]Sindalah opened to guests on October 27, 2024 with a party organized by Robb Report consisting of 65 superyachts with celebrities including Alicia Keys, Katherine Jenkins, and Chris Tucker.[17][2] At the time of its opening the island was still under development, with the island planning 413 luxury hotel rooms and 333 apartments.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Crown Prince announces Sindalah, NEOM's first luxury island development". Arab News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Springer, Bill. "Sindalah Island Opens With A Superyacht Bash In The Red Sea". Forbes. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Bell, Jennifer (9 May 2023). "Exclusive first look: NEOM's Sindalah to showcase Saudi Arabia to the world". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Narayanan, Nirmal (27 October 2024). "Saudi Arabia opens Sindalah in NEOM as part of Vision 2030 tourism drive". Arab News. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ "Sindalah Island Unveiled: The First Neom Project Opens in Saudi Arabia - Infra Info Hub". 7 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
- ^ "HRH Prince Crown Prince Announces Sindalah, NEOM's First Island Development". Saudi Press Agency. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Nihal, Mariam (13 December 2022). "Sindalah: Saudi Arabia's yachting and golfing destination to open in 202". The National News. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "NEOM, Marriott International announce new Saudi luxury apartments in Sindalah". Arabian Business. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia to open GCC's first island golf course on Neom's Sindalah". Khaleeji Times. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Radwan, Rawan (9 April 2023). "Could NEOM's Sindalah island be the premiere luxury destination of 2024?". Arab News. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Bell, Jennifer. "Inside Saudi Arabia's Sindalah: All you need to know about NEOM's luxury island". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Ikiz, Serra (12 June 2023). "IGY Marinas partnered with NEOM to develop and operate marina at Sindalah". Parametric Architecture. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Radwan, Rawan (9 April 2023). "Could NEOM's Sindalah island be the premiere luxury destination of 2024?". Arab News.
- ^ "THE RED SEA'S NEW ULTRA-HIGH LUXURY DESTINATION". lucadini.com. Luca Dini. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Marriott International Signs Agreement With Neom to Open Three Properties Within Luxury Island Destination Sindalah". hospitalitynet.org. Hospitality Net. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Four Seasons Sindalah Island". hospitalitynet.org. Hospitality Net. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ Louch, Toby. "Saudi Arabia's Neom Welcomes First Guests to Sindalah Island". elitetraveler.com. Retrieved 15 December 2024.