Real estate developer Red Sea Global will hand over the first set of hotels to operators at Saudi Arabian ultra-luxury giga-project Amaala in Q1 of 2026, according to Lindsay Madden-Nadeau, when she spoke at the Global Wellness Summit in Dubai last week.

Spanning 4,155sq m of the Saudi Arabian coastline, Amaala will be spread across three locations (Triple Bay, The Island and The Coastal Development).

Madden-Nadeau, senior director of wellness strategy for Red Sea Global, said: “Saudi Arabia and Amaala will be a benchmark for health and wellbeing. Amaala will be the most comprehensive wellness destination in the world.

“The masterplanning is complete and we had to really unpack how we would deliver on that ambitious mandate,” added Madden-Nadeau. “Amaala has equestrian experiences, community areas, residential components, the 5km park for walking and hiking, contemplation spaces, fitness offerings, lavender fields and much more – making the most of nature as an asset.

“Typically you build a spa from 1,000-1,200sq m in a normal luxury hotel if you're lucky, we’ve doubled that. The wellness spaces we've built – spaces dedicated to wellness, some are 8,000sq m and 10,000sq m.”

Triple Bay is where the first six resorts will open, in addition to a yacht club, a marine life institute called Corallium, a marina and Marina Village. A 5km linear park connecting the resorts and experiences, called the Wellness Route, will also open during this initial handover.

Red Sea Global has invested SAR51.04 billion (US$13.6 billion €12.5 billion, £10.4 billion) in the first phase of the Amaala project. Upon completion, the destination will feature nine resorts, comprising more than 1,600 keys – including branded and unbranded residences.

Amaala is being developed in response to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious masterplan, called Vision 2030, to reduce the country’s traditional dependence on oil and diversify its economy.

Red Sea Global expects Amaala to create up to 50,000 new jobs and contribute SAR 11 billion (US$2.9 billion €2.7 billion, £2.2 billion) to the nation’s GDP upon completion.

First six resorts to open

The first six resorts to open will be:

• Equinox Resort and Residences, Amaala

This resort will have 128 guestrooms, 21 branded residences and its concept will focus on the signature Equinox offering, giving guests access to cutting-edge experiences and technology to promote better health, regeneration and recovery. It will have an open-air magnesium vitality pool, a subterranean spa grotto, hyperbaric chambers, IV therapies, an Equinox Fitness Club and five dining venues.

• Four Seasons Resort and Residences, Amaala at Triple BayWith 202 guestrooms and 25 residences, this resort will feature cascading water features, outdoor spaces for relaxation, six dining outlets, children’s programming and a discovery centre.

• Nammos Resort and Residences, Amaala

Described by Red Sea Global as a “social and solo wellness playground,” this resort will have 110 rooms and 20 apartments, plus a variety of food and beverage options – including Nammos Restaurant, which is located on an exclusive island.

• Rosewood Resort, AmaalaThis 110-key and 26-residence property is divided into different zones for a variety of experiences, including a family hotel, couples hotel and spa and wellness area – where the Asaya Spa will be located.

• Six Senses, Amaala

In addition to 100 guestrooms and 25 residences, there will be a 3,000sq m spa offering biohacking programmes and experiences led by visiting practitioners, among others.

The three remaining resorts due to open shortly after the first six as part of phase one of the development include Clinique La Prairie Health Resort, Jayasom Wellness Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Resort.

Other experiences

Corallium, the marine life attraction, will open with displays and exhibits across three floors – celebrating the resilience of the Red Sea.

Amaala Yacht Club will also debut, with a dedicated sailing academy.

Regenerative tourism

Amaala is aiming to provide a 30 per cent net conservation benefit to the local ecosystem by 2040. Red Sea Global says the resort will do this by limiting annual visitors to 500,000, using 100 per cent renewable energy to power the entire estate and eliminating 350,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Read an interview with Red Sea Global’s asset management director Stephan Wagner on the project in an earlier edition of Spa Business here.

Residences

Residences at Amaala have already been on sale for a month at the first-ever Clinique La Prairie Residences, a private island Rosewood villa, Nammos Residences and golf community Andar Club Residences.