Red Sea

The Saudi Red Sea coast is the one giga-project that actually opened. That is worth saying up front, because the others generate far more coverage than they do bookable rooms.

What is open

AMAALA opened its first resorts in April 2026, with more through the year across the Triple Bay site. The Red Sea Global development further south has been receiving guests since late 2023. Between them there are real hotels, a real airport and a real way to arrive.

What this is: high-end resort coastline on some of the healthiest reef left anywhere. What it is not: a cheap beach holiday. Nothing here is priced for a budget trip, and there is very little independent accommodation outside the resorts.

Who it is for

Divers, snorkellers and people who want a quiet, expensive week by warm water. The reefs are the genuine draw — far less dived than the Egyptian side of the same sea, and in noticeably better condition.

It is not a sightseeing destination. If you want ruins, souqs and cities, this is the wrong part of the country and AlUla is the right one.

How long

Four nights minimum for it to be worth the journey, a week if you are diving seriously. Anything shorter and you spend a disproportionate share of the trip in transit.

Getting there

Red Sea International airport takes domestic flights, principally from Riyadh, and that is how nearly everyone arrives. Some resorts arrange seaplane or boat transfers for the last leg, which is not a gimmick given how spread out the coastline is.

Driving is possible but long, and once you are at a resort you will not need a car. If you want a transfer from Jeddah or a road trip that takes in the coast, message us with dates and we will quote it — this is not a route on our fixed card.

When to come

October to April is the comfortable window on land. The water is warm enough to dive year-round without a heavy wetsuit.

Summer on this coast is hot and humid, and while the resorts are built for it, the hours you would actually want to spend outdoors shrink.

If you are coming to dive

Bring your certification card and your logbook. Check what the resort's dive centre includes, because gear rental, marine park fees and photographs are usually extra.

The rule that catches travellers out: do not fly within 18 to 24 hours of your last dive. Plan diving for the start or middle of the trip, never the day before you leave. Our Red Sea diving page covers the practicalities.

Worth knowing

• Resort pricing is genuinely high and we do not quote it. Book direct or through the operator and check what is included.
• The region is open to visitors of any faith.
• Do not touch or stand on coral. It is alive, and this is the reason the reefs here are still in the state they are.
• Announcements about new resorts and openings move faster than reality does. Confirm a property is actually receiving guests before you book flights around it.

Where it fits

As the relaxing half of a two-part trip: AlUla for the archaeology, then the coast for the week after. Or as a standalone escape from the Gulf, which is what a lot of its guests use it for.