Saudi Arabia’s Amaala tourism project to break ground soon: CEO

Saudi Arabia’s uber-luxury destination Amaala is in the final stages of appointing a consortium of international architectural design firms as it aims to break ground shortly, its CEO Nicholas Naples told Argaam in an exclusive interview.

Launched in September 2018 by the Public Investment Fund, the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the giga tourism project, dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East”, will focus on wellness, healthy living, and meditation.

Covering 3,800 square kilometers, it will provide world-class facilities across three integrated sites with a total of 2,525 hotel keys and 1,496 residential units that will allow travelers to experience the very best in wellness, art, culture, sports and fitness.

"We will be breaking ground shortly. Given the size of this project, there are a number of key legal and administrative milestones that need to be met before physical construction can begin. However, we are happy to say that those are progressing rapidly," he added.

‘Breathtaking’ vision

The masterplans for the overall project and its three zones are approved, Naples said, describing the vision and ambition for Amaala as "breathtaking".

"These firms will design and bring to life innovative and sustainable concepts for Amaala and its three zones, currently referred to as Triple Bay, The Island and The Coastal Development.”

The company is set to announce the decision in the coming weeks.

While the total cost of the mega-project has not been disclosed, the CEO said the PIF would be providing the initial seed funding.

"We are in discussion with a number of private sector companies and market investors (who) will also be involved in developing the project as well as operate the project’s facilities," Naples revealed, without giving any names.

An exclusive enclave

When asked how Amaala complements other mega projects in the Kingdom, Naples said the project is part of an integrated approach to developing Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, which includes NEOM and the Red Sea Project.

“All of the developments on the Red Sea are intended to co-exist in a complementary manner to cover different target audiences by providing different offerings to match their needs,” he added.

"Amaala will be an exclusive enclave in this burgeoning region. More than a destination, we will be a place of self-transformation with a focus on art, wellness and the purity of the Red Sea. The site will be realized as a destination for the discerning travelers, providing every guest with a bespoke luxury lifestyle of their own choice."

The CEO, however, maintained that Amaala is on track to meet its initial target date of completion in 2028.

Driving economic growth

Amaala will be a significant driver of domestic and foreign direct investment, stimulating economic growth and job creation on the Kingdom’s north-western coast. In addition, as envisioned in the Vision 2030 strategy, the giga project intends to support the diversification of the country’s leisure and tourism industry, while promoting cultural conservation, ecological preservation and sustainability.

“We will generate an expected 22,000 jobs across hospitality and tourism, leisure and retail, in addition to the opportunities created in construction and ancillary industries,” Naples concluded.

AMAALA will create a new destination which focuses on health, wellness and medical treatment while developing the tourism sector of Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/B7DA29EWff

— AMAALA (@WelcomeToAmaala) March 20, 2019