The Red Sea, which is a flagship destination of Saudi Arabian developer Red Sea Global, has joined exclusive community of luxury travel brands, becoming one of the few destinations worldwide to do so before official opening. The destination will benefit from access to unique network of the world’s leading travel agents, designers and suppliers.

Red Sea Global (RSG), the Saudi Arabian state-owned company that is currently developing the two most ambitious multi-billion dollar tourism projects in the world, says that its flagship destination, The Red Sea, has joined the exclusive Serandipians network of luxury travel and hospitality organisations.

As it is due to open to visitors only later this year, The Red Sea is one of the first tourism destinations in Saudi Arabia to join Serandipians, and is one of just a small select number of luxury destinations around the world to have joined the network before officially opening to guests.

According to a press statement, Serandipians is an industry-leading ecosystem drawing together the best boutique luxury travel agencies and hospitality brands from around the world. The statement adds that Serandipians has specifically selected The Red Sea to join its community on account of the destination’s ambition to deliver outstanding services and best-in-class accommodation in a breathtaking location along Saudi Arabia’s west coast.

“Combining the natural beauty of rolling sand dunes, untouched islands and abundant coral reefs with first-class luxury guest experiences, The Red Sea is poised to welcome travellers to Saudi Arabia as one of the world’s few remaining unspoilt gems. Our partnership with Serandipians will help us bring regenerative tourism to the world, and demonstrate a new kind of sustainable development that aims to enrich natural capital and benefit the environment in which we operate,” says John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global.

The statement adds that as many as 13 internationally renowned hotel brands have already announced their presence at The Red Sea, including Ritz Carlton Reserve and Miraval hotels, the first to operate in the Middle East.

In addition to some of the world’s leading luxury hotels, travellers will enjoy a bespoke and unique experience at The Red Sea that caters to every need. Guests have the chance to make the most of the very best high-end restaurants, once in a lifetime cultural and historical activities, a wide range of outdoor excursions such as stargazing and camel trails, and sporting activities including scuba diving, horse riding and hiking.

“We will work with The Red Sea and our wider community of luxury travel professionals to entice travelers to this truly spectacular part of the world, and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s exposure within our network. Ahead of opening, The Red Sea already has demonstrated a commitment to world-class luxury facilities and services, with an impressive roster of five-star brands, many of them already our partners, choosing the destination to open their very first hotels in Saudi Arabia,” says Diana Nuber, Director of Partnerships and Media Relations of Serendipians.

The statement says that as part of Serandipians, The Red Sea will benefit from the promotion of its astounding luxury offering across a global community of the world’s leading travel agents, as well as designers and suppliers to the luxury travel industry.

In order to join the Serandipians community and benefit from its elite network, destinations must meet strict eligibility criteria as part of a thorough review process. This includes a 5-star property rating, references from a number of partners and suppliers, and the provision of luxury added-value services for guests such as ease of booking and wellness offerings including spa facilities. Adventure and experiential travel are also high on the eligibility criteria list to become a Preferred Destination.

The Red Sea is a luxury tourism destination with the aim of being the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project.

It is being developed over 28,000 sqkm of pristine lands and waters, including a vast archipelago of more than 90 islands. The destination features sweeping desert dunes, mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes, and ancient cultural and heritage sites.

The Red Sea has already passed significant milestones and work is on track to welcome the first guests in 2023, when the first hotels will open. Phase one, which includes 16 hotels in total, will complete in 2024.

Upon completion in 2030, The Red Sea will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The destination will also include an international airport, luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, and leisure facilities, says the statement.