AMAALA Yacht Club opens marina to superyachts on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast

AMAALA Yacht Club (AYC) has officially opened its marina and clubhouse on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, positioning the destination as a new winter cruising base for the international superyacht fleet.

Developed by Red Sea Global as part of the wider AMAALA destination, the yacht club has begun operations for founding members and visiting yachts. The marina offers 119 berths for sailing and motor yachts, with capacity for superyachts of more than 100 metres and up to 140 metres.

Located approximately 200 nautical miles south of the Suez Canal, AMAALA is being positioned as a gateway between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, with onward access to the Indian Ocean. The destination is around 2,000 nautical miles from Monaco and has been pitched as an alternative winter cruising ground to the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

"AMAALA Yacht Club marks the emergence of a truly global yachting destination, offering unparalleled access to the stunning Saudi Red Sea coast," said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. "More than a world-class facility, it brings together luxury, wellness, and regenerative tourism unlike anywhere in the world."

The marina currently provides fuelling, provisioning and crew services, with additional marine services and maintenance and repair facilities planned for the coming years. A full international port of entry is also in operation, while berthing and mooring fees are set in line with leading European yachting destinations, according to AMAALA.

Alongside its role as a cruising base, the club is seeking to establish the Red Sea as a destination for competitive sailing. AMAALA Yacht Club will host the Grand Finale of The Ocean Race 2027, marking the event's first finish in the Middle East and its first time racing on Red Sea waters. A wider programme of international yachting events is also planned.

At the centre of the development is a 7,900-square-metre clubhouse designed by HKS Architects. The building includes a series of dining and social spaces, private meeting suites, event facilities and a rooftop pool, with venues including AMAALA Lounge, ANQA, 27°C and The Deck.

The club is also home to the AYC Academy, which offers an RYA-certified sailing programme alongside watersports activities for different ages and abilities. The academy forms part of AMAALA's plans to develop a sailing culture in Saudi Arabia and support the next generation of local sailors.

Members and guests will also have access to resorts within the wider AMAALA destination, including Four Seasons, Six Senses, Rosewood, Equinox and Nammos, with two further resorts due to open in the coming months. With average seasonal temperatures of around 26°C and lows of 23°C, AMAALA is targeting owners, guests and crew seeking a year-round base. The yacht club is approximately 45 minutes from Alwajh International Airport.

Like the wider AMAALA development, the yacht club operates entirely on renewable energy, with the project positioning regenerative tourism as a central part of its long-term development.

Adrian Peet, general manager of AMAALA Yacht Club added: “AMAALA Yacht Club is a new home for the yachting world – from superyacht owners cruising the Red Sea for the first time, to the sailors who will build a racing culture here."