Sindalah, an ultra-luxury island resort on the Red Sea, is now open for limited access, marking the first phase of the giant Neom project in northern Saudi Arabia. The Italian firm Luca Dini Design and Architecture has created this luxury facility that stretches over 840,000 square meters around five kilometers off the coastline of Neom. 

Saudi will be one of the central destinations for luxury tourism aligned with Saudi Arabia‘s 2030 Vision in pursuing economic diversification and creating a better tourism environment to offer the Kingdom. On the significance of Sindalah, Neom CEO, Nadhmi Al-Nasr said: “NEOM is committed to opening Sindalah to support a new era of luxury tourism in the Kingdom. Credit goes to the vision in leadership by His Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman that realizes this project. 

Sindalah features a marina and yacht club with 86 berths, designed as a gateway to the Red Sea. A wide range of amenities offered on the island include numerous hotels, restaurants, and leisure facilities. Notable among these are interiors of Sindalah Yacht Club styled by Italian fashion brand Stefano Ricci. Additional attractions include a beach club, a golf club, and several retail outlets. Yacht management services are also available. 

Accommodating the needs of the discerning traveler, Sindalah has 440 hotel rooms and 88 villas along with more than 200 serviced apartments. By 2028, the island will welcome an estimated 2,400 visitors a day, an important part of the bigger Neom concept, which also includes futuristic mega-city The Line. 

While the opening of Sindalah is a milestone for the Neom initiative, the project has been heavily criticized, especially on human rights issues. Organizations like ALQST have raised serious concerns over the treatment of local communities, such as the Huwaitat tribe, which have been accused of forced displacements and punitive actions against dissenters. Human rights advocate Lina Alhathloul has condemned the project, saying that Neom is being “built on the blood of Saudis.”