Neom, a core component of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification agenda Vision 2030, is a master-planned tourist destination and global trade hub covering more than 26,000 square kilometers near the northern tip of the Red Sea, south of Jordan. Launched by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in 2017, the megaproject is expected to cost upward of $9 trillion while creating roughly 460,000 jobs and adding $48 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP. It will be composed of several different regions, including The Line, an emissions-free linear smart city in a single 500 x 200 meter building spanning 170 kilometers.
While The Line has faced several logistical and economic challenges and now isn’t expected to be complete until 2045, one region in Neom has already opened. Sindalah, although still under development, officially opened to guests on October 27, 2024, with a superyacht party that brought together members of the Saudi royal family and A-list entertainers from around the world. The nearly $4 billion island, encompassing 840,000 square meters, features a massive marina, world-class golf course, luxury resorts, and several other amenities.
Red Sea Week Grand Opening
More than 60 vessels from Europe, the United States, and Saudi Arabia arrived on Sindalah Island for the Red Sea Week superyacht party in 2024. American celebrities and entertainers, including Will Smith, Tom Brady, and Alicia Keys, also attended the event. Manhattan-based painter Alexander Yulish, a VIP guest who arrived on the 237-foot Bleu de Nimes, told Forbes that other guests included CEOs, creatives, and high-net worth families. The party alone cost more than $45 million.
Marina and Yacht Club
Italian firm Luca Dini Design and Architecture, known for creating superyachts, designed the island’s 86-berth marina and yacht club, which serves as an entry point to the Red Sea for boat owners throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Europe. The berths can accommodate yachts as long as 165 feet, while there is also space just outside the harbor for superyachts up to 550 feet. The French company IGY Marinas operates the marina.
The nearby Sindalah Yacht Club blends Italian luxury design and craftsmanship with world-class hospitality. The interior of the 1,800-square-meter venue features white Carrara marble, Sindalah Blue accents, and briar-root wood surfaces. The club also has a tranquil terrace pool and a “fine dining experience” created by Italian chef Enrico Bartolini, whose restaurants have earned more than a dozen Michelin stars.
Luxury Resorts and Amenities
Sindalah will have hundreds of rooms across several luxury resorts, including properties developed by Four Seasons and Marriott International. Combined, the Glamour and Vibrancy resort areas on the island will feature 440 rooms, 218 serviced apartments, and 88 villas. The Village, nestled between the resorts, is a vibrant social space with late-night venues, experiential dining, and other imaginative experiences.
There’s also an amphitheater, sports club, beach club, and the Sindalah Golf Club, which features a 6,474-yard course built around sandy dunes and clifftop coves.
Environmental Considerations
Conservation and clean energy are at the core of Neom, including Salindah. Neom hopes to reach net-zero emissions by 2060 and is designating 95 percent of its land and marine space as protected areas. Only electric vehicles will be permitted on Sindalah.
“Nothing is done in Neom without sustainability and environment at the centre, it just doesn’t happen,” explained Peter Fitzhardinge, Neom Tourism’s director of marketing and sales. “If there is a compromise, it doesn’t go through. From how we use energy, since we use renewables, Neom will be home to the largest solar energy, it is very much reliant upon that as well as desalination and green hydrogen, which is the future. The environment is key. The pristine waters, sea and wildlife, every step is taken that the environment is looked after.”
Impact on Tourism
One of Saudi Arabia’s main goals in developing Neom is to attract more international visitors and boost non-oil revenue, particularly tourism. To that end, Sindalah is expected to receive as many as 2,400 visitors per day as early as 2028. About 70 percent of visitors initially will likely come from GCC nations, but Sindalah hotel development executive director Chris Newman expects a significant increase in travelers from outside of the GCC in the coming years.
Sindalah is about 17 hours away from the majority of Mediterranean yachting marinas, making it an ideal stop for boat owners on lengthy trips. Moreover, about 40 percent of people around the world will be able to reach Neom via aircraft within six hours.
Other Planned Neom Developments
In addition to Sindalah and The Line, Neom will feature innovative communities like the floating industrial complex known as Oxagon and Trojena, an outdoor skiing destination in the Sarat Mountains. The 1,400 square-kilometer mountain destination will feature a ski village, 80-hectare golf course, 3,000-seat amphitheater, 11 hotels, and a lifestyle management resort. Oxagon, formerly known as Neom Industrial City, will include an oceanographic research center and desalination plant, among other facilities.