Interview: Saudi Tourism Authority on positioning the Red Sea as superyachting's next frontier

BOATPro sits down with Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), to learn more about the country’s bold plans for transforming the yachting landscape and the future of tourism in the region...

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is emerging as a compelling new destination for superyachts. With a coastline that stretches 1,800 kilometres, the region encompasses more than 1,000 islands, 800 dive sites and a rich, ancient history. The Red Sea sits at the crossroads of civilisations, where Nabataean heritage, volcanic formations and futuristic design coexist within driving distance of each other.

By 2030 the Saudi Red Sea coast will have 8,000 rooms across 50 hotels, thousands of new marina berths and exceptional air connectivity via Red Sea International Airport, a carbon-neutral hub that opened in September 2023, connecting more than 250 million people within a three-hour flight radius. The region is setting its sights to become a luxury travel destination to rival the Mediterranean, and so far $22 billion (£16.5bn) has been committed to the cause. Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, explains how this vast ambition goes far beyond mere infrastructure.

“We are coming late in the game, and we are investing like no one else in the world,” Hamidaddin says. “If you do it right, you will do well.” The STA refers to the new Red Sea network as a “super-destination”, and the definition is three-fold: scale, standards and sustainability.

The scale is, indeed, staggering. Rather than a handful of marinas scattered along the coast, Saudi is developing tens of destinations, with multiple hubs, many of which are already open or due to launch over the coming months. Six Red Sea resorts have already opened their doors: St. Regis, Nujuma, Six Senses Southern Dunes, Desert Rock, Shebara and The Red Sea EDITION. A further 10 are set to launch on the recently launched Shura Islands throughout 2026, including SLS and InterContinental.

The benchmarks are set incredibly high. “We want to set new standards,” says Hamidaddin. “This is not for the sake of vanity; it comes from a sense of responsibility.” Unlike many established yachting hubs that have evolved over decades, Saudi is designing its superyacht infrastructure from the ground up, with generous berths, deepwater access, full-service facilities and seamless guest experiences.

Sustainability has been embedded in the project from day one. “We all understand that the greatest asset we have is not what we develop, it is what was created by God and left for us to preserve,” he says. From zero-carbon airport infrastructure to coral nurseries designed to restore marine ecosystems, the stewardship of this coastline is seen as a generational responsibility. In December 2024, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Red Sea Sustainability Strategy. A core pillar of the initiative is regenerative tourism, which has manifested in a zero-carbon micro-grid powering Red Sea International Airport, development strategies that exclude sensitive breeding grounds and many science-backed marine plans. Other objectives include a 50 per cent renewable energy contribution to the energy mix by 2030 to protect 30 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s marine and coastal areas by 2030.

“Everyone talks about sustainability, but very few do anything about it,” says Hamidaddin. “It comes at a big-ticket cost.” For Saudi, arriving to the market late is framed as an advantage: to skip the outdated and the damaging, and to build what the future requires. “Sustainability to us is the vision, is the guidebook of His Royal Highness, and it’s for us to do it right. I am confident as a promoter that if we do it right, as I said, if you do good, you will do well.”

There are major advances in accessibility too. Saudi’s eVisa scheme now includes around 66 countries, with instant entry for UK, US and Schengen visa holders or residents. New flight routes launched in 2024, meaning direct access from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester to Jeddah, Riyadh and Neom Bay.

For owners navigating the seasonal migration between regions, Saudi offers a timely solution. Many yachts typically sail from the Western Med in September to the Caribbean or east to Greece, Turkey and Montenegro to stretch the season into October. Hamidaddin describes the Red Sea as the perfect continuation for yachts that choose not to cross the Atlantic. Warm water, steady cruising conditions and new experiences create what he calls a “Med to Red extension”. “This is an ideal extension of the season,” he says. “From Greece to the Red Sea is half the time of sailing versus Greece to Monaco.”

The logistical argument is compelling. Combined with streamlined entry processes (including digitised licensing, harmonised co-ordination with Egypt and an expanding visa programme), the destination is positioning itself as a practical and desirable option. For captains looking to maximise charter availability and minimise repositioning downtime, there is an opportunity here.

There are three flagship yacht clubs in the region. Jeddah Yacht Club & Marina was the first to open in 2022 and remains at the heart of the yachting scene. It has 91 berths for yachts up to 115 metres, a sailing academy, dining and shopping. It’s also the main entry point for international yachts arriving into Saudi.

Further north lies the imminent arrival of AMAALA Yacht Club, part of the Triple Bay development. Then there is Bay La Sun Marina & Yacht Club in King Abdullah Economic City, which is a more casual, family-oriented marina that blends berthing with beach clubs. Additional marinas at destinations including Red Sea Global’s Shura Island and heritage city Yanbu will expand this yachting network.

“You can expect a journey in time – the past to the future,” says Hamidaddin. Guests who anchor off Red Sea Global can travel inland to AlUla, a UNESCO-protected site where carved tombs predate Petra, and desert landscapes host some of the world’s most ambitious art and hospitality projects. Further south, Desert Rock resorts, golden dunes and coastal nature reserves create the feeling of new worlds unfolding.

Asked what success looks like for him, Hamidaddin is clear: “For the Red to become the new Med.” It’s ambitious, but the momentum is undeniable. For captains and owners seeking fresh horizons, he says, “There is a whole new world in Arabia.”