Welcome to Sindalah: The Luxurious New Red Sea Island Set to Revolutionize the World’s Yachting Scene

Robb Report Studio
·5 min read
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Think of yachting, and you’re instantly transported to the world’s glamorous destination: the Mediterranean ports and Caribbean idylls with vast stretches of warm, crystalline waters. Year after year, the world’s yachting circuit flocks to these well-trodden waters, but this is set to change with the opening of an alluring new destination next year, set away in the pristine waters of the Red Sea.

Lying on the northwestern shores of Saudi Arabia, framed by 468 kilometers of untouched coastline and cerulean seas, NEOM is poised to become the world’s newest and most exciting tourism destination. On these peaceful and untrammeled shores, visitors will be welcomed into a world that sets new benchmarks in maritime luxury—with several marinas, two cruise and seaport terminals, and over 5,000 wet berths. At the heart of this offering, welcoming the world to what NEOM has to offer, is the luxury island of Sindalah, the first foray into this mesmerizing new world.

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The Jewel of the Red Sea

When Sindalah opens in early 2024, it will reshape the world’s yachting calendar as the most exciting new premier destination, drawing yachters and holiday makers with its year-round sunshine, outstanding facilities, and lifestyle that emulates days aboard a superyacht. Here, in a Mediterranean-style climate largely protected from tempestuous weather, visitors can sail into a world of new, untraditional vacation experiences. Sindalah is accessible directly from most Mediterranean hot spots in just 17 hours—made even more convenient by a short sail down Egypt’s Suez Canal.

While its outstanding natural surroundings are a reason to come in themselves, with warm, crystalline Red Sea waters waiting to be discovered, Sindalah will also be home to world-leading yachting facilities. An 86-berth marina will accommodate yachts up to 50 meters, while 75 offshore buoys will cater to vessels of magnificent proportions (up to 180 meters in length). To develop and operate this prestigious marina and cement it as a visionary new destination on the global yachting calendar, Sindalah has partnered with IGY Marinas. When established, the island will join IGY’s superyacht marina network of 23 superlative offerings across 12 countries—the only network of its kind—and welcome its exclusive superyacht membership program, IGY Trident. To ensure an enticing social calendar for the world’s yachting community, Sindalah has also secured a partnership with the prestigious BWA Yachting; the partnership includes a dedicated BWA Sindalah office on the island. The most alluring and sophisticated yachting hangout, however, will be The Yacht Club, a social beacon marrying glamour and exclusivity with indulgence and tranquility.

For yacht owners and guests who want to explore Sindalah’s rich and largely undiscovered waters teeming with colorful marine life, thriving coral reefs and newly discovered shipwreck sights, a program with Dive Butler will offer tailored dive trips from the privacy of a vessel. The partnership with the globally respected Dive Butler will make Sindalah a world-leading diving destination with highly experienced instructors, a PADI-certified dive school, and the latest specialized diving equipment. Forward-thinking programs, such as eco-conscious diving, will also be in place to preserve the colorful, unbleached coral reefs. In a powerful move toward inclusivity, Dive Butler is also devising an accessible diving program to help people with physical disabilities discover the wonders beneath the ocean.

A Glamorous Vacation Destination 

Yachting and oceanic pursuits lie at the heart of this luxury island, but Sindalah will also offer endless opportunities for enjoyment on land, positioning itself as the world’s newest and most glamorous island destination. Life on Sindalah will take inspiration from the timeless style of the Mediterranean but be elevated to new and unparalleled levels of beauty, sophistication, and glamour. Days can be spent unwinding in the sun, shopping in myriad luxury retail outlets, or indulging in unique culinary experiences with 38 dining concepts planned including Michelin-starred brands. The epitome of island refinement will be at The Beach Club, somewhere between Monaco and Mykonos, with a sleek and luxurious vibe. The Beach Club will be the spot to relax and socialize by day and party by night.

While seemingly secluded, 40 percent of the world’s population will be able to reach Sindalah within six hours by flying into the new NEOM Bay Airport from hubs like Dubai and London. To cater to these visitors, Sindalah will feature upscale resorts boasting 413 keys and 333 elegant, serviced apartments. When it opens, guests can check into three plush hotels from Marriott’s Luxury and Autograph Collections, with a Four Seasons hotel also in the pipeline—all of which will be LEED Platinum certified.

Elsewhere on the island, guests can enjoy a wellness center and spa, sports center with an Olympic-size swimming pool, and spaces for indoor and outdoor events such as an amphitheater, cementing Sindalah as a destination that’s just as social as it is exclusive. Sindalah is also set to become one of the region’s most popular and premier golf destinations. A 6,474-yard, par-70, GEO-certified course has been masterminded by renowned American golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., offering two thrillingly unique nine-hole experiences. A 300-meter, double-ended driving range will also house golf suites with state-of-the-art ball tracking technology and personalized data feedback.

Destination of the Future 

NEOM is, undoubtedly, the destination of the future, and to preserve and protect that future, the groundbreaking development has shown unwavering commitment to sustainability. Only 5 percent of NEOM will be developed, leaving 95 percent of the world’s beautiful and untouched landscapes perfectly preserved. All energy on Sindalah will be 100 percent renewable over time, cementing it as a leader in sustainable luxury travel. Sindalah will not only offer a new ecosystem on the world’s yachting circuit, but also bring travelers to an unexplored and enchantingly beautiful destination for the very first time. NEOM is set to redefine how we see tourism, providing something completely new, unswum, untrammeled, and untouched—and it all starts with Sindalah.

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