Situated on the pristine Ummahat Island in the Al Wajh Lagoon, the resort will be the first private island from which global luminaries will be able to discover The Red Sea, one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s luxury regenerative tourism destinations on the west coast of the country.
The Red Sea is surrounded by the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system and spans over 28,000sq km with an archipelago of more than 90 untouched islands. Ummahat Island is fringed by abundant wildlife, marine ecosystems and natural marvels. Guests will be able to snorkel amongst preserved coral reefs, obtain PADI certifications, and embark on scuba diving expeditions to nearby wrecks and discovery sites, including the Blue Hole, a large natural marine cavern adjacent to the resort. The island’s crystal-clear, vivid blue water can also be enjoyed by an array of water sports including stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. Excursions to the mainland via a short trip by chartered boat will offer guests the opportunity to explore dormant volcanoes, heritage sites and sweeping desert dunes.
“The Red Sea is an exciting new destination for global travellers to immerse themselves in an undiscovered part of the world,” said Helen Leighton, Vice President, Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “As a gateway to the untapped wonders of the Red Sea, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort is a new glamorous island address that captures the sophistication of the St. Regis brand and its legacy of exquisite experiences.”
Central to the destination’s mission of preserving its precious natural surroundings and enhancing key habitats that enable biodiversity to flourish are several projects and collaborations with key partners like the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and UK marine robotics company VAARST, whose SubSLAM® technology is hard at work capturing 3D images of the thriving coral across the entire Al Wajh Lagoon. Earlier this year, a mangrove nursery opened on the coast to support the growth of 50 million mangroves by 2030, with the first one million seedlings already planted. This is in addition to The Red Sea being home to the largest landscape nursery in the region which has grown more than five million plants, shrubs and trees to green the destination.
