For most of its history, the Red Sea has been somewhere sailors passed through rather than a place they paused to enjoy. Cargo moved, crews kept course, and only the briefest impressions were left behind. Today, that is changing. Along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coastline, AMAALA is curating a destination that takes thoughtful design to a landscape still largely untouched, offering a sense of calm, space, and year-round possibility.
A Marina Designed for Modern Yachting
Triple Bay Marina, designed by HKS, sits within a naturally protected inlet where the water remains notably clear and consistently calm. The design philosophy features no unnecessary structures, just a marina that works with the contours of the coastline. It will host 116 vessels, including private yachts up to 140 metres.
Alongside the marina, the AMAALA Yacht Club provides a relaxed social setting. The aesthetic is polished with generous terraces and refined interiors that prioritise luxurious comfort. Mornings lend themselves to unhurried planning over coffee and evenings evolve naturally into easy conversations as the bay shifts into softer light. It’s a club built for those who live at sea, not just visit it.
A Coastline with Character and Charm
The Red Sea’s natural conditions offer a level of clarity and variety rarely found elsewhere. Visibility often reaches 30 metres, revealing reefs, sandy shelves, and volcanic formations that give the coastline both structure and personality. The reefs themselves have adapted to high salinity and intense sun, creating a resilience and colour palette distinct from other well-known underwater regions.
The shoreline is dotted with uninhabited islands, sheltered coves, and quiet anchorages ideal for exploration. The scenery evolves gradually as steep cliffs soften into concealed beaches, broad bays lead into narrow passageways, and everything retains an unusual sense of being untouched.
Where the Mediterranean is shaped by a compressed summer season, the Red Sea offers a very different promise: sailing is possible throughout the entire year. Water temperatures rarely dip below 20°C, winds stay steady even in winter, and the region sees far fewer storms than Europe or the Caribbean. It means warm-water swimming in December, dining outdoors without heaters, and sunset sails that don’t require bundling up against the cold. For crews, it means more stable employment patterns and smoother operational planning. For charter operators, it allows a full calendar rather than a half-year of activity.
The Red Sea on the Racing Map
AMAALA is already making its mark in competitive sailing. TEAM AMAALA is participating in The Ocean Race Europe 2025, led by Swiss skipper Alan Roura, whose experience across previous editions brings credibility and insight.
In 2027, AMAALA will host the Grand Finale of The Ocean Race, an event traditionally rooted in European ports. Bringing it to the Red Sea marks a significant moment, showcasing the region’s ability to support the demands of elite sport through team logistics, media operations, spectators, and, crucially, challenging and consistent sailing conditions.
A year-round sailing academy teaches advanced navigation techniques tailored to the region’s geography. Trainees can also learn to read the currents shaped by the Red Sea’s narrow entrances, anticipate desert-influenced wind shifts, and manage the bright, unfiltered sunlight that defines these waters.
Conservation with Clarity and Purpose
Luxury travel is increasingly tied to caring for the environment, and AMAALA puts that idea into practice. The Corallium Marine Life Institute, designed by Foster + Partners, aims to boost local marine biodiversity by 30% by 2040 through coral restoration, reef monitoring, and research into sustainable coastal management.
What makes the work feel relevant is how open it is to guests. Visitors can join guided sessions, see restoration efforts up close, and learn how the local ecosystem responds to change. Instead of treating conservation as a distant concept, AMAALA weaves it into the experience, gently reminding guests of the value of the waters they’re exploring.
Quiet Luxury by the Water
When AMAALA’s first phase opens in 2025, guests will discover eight resorts spread across a generous stretch of coastline, offering 1,470 rooms. Low-slung beachfront villas come with private pools, cliffside suites feature broad terraces, and interiors favour natural materials, soft palettes, and a calm, uncluttered atmosphere.
Properties are spaced to create genuine separation, letting guests enjoy uninterrupted views, quiet beaches, and exclusive dining without the sense of competition that often accompanies even the most expensive resorts.
Sustainability is seamlessly integrated, as the destination runs entirely on renewable energy, primarily solar, avoiding around 500,000 tonnes of emissions annually. Fresh water comes from sustainable desalination, waste is carefully managed, and design prioritises passive cooling.
A Different Kind of Luxury
What sets AMAALA apart is not a single feature but the overall feeling it offers: spaciousness, reliability, clarity, and a quiet confidence in both its setting and its ambitions. The coastline still feels lightly touched; the hospitality is refined without being showy; and the sailing conditions remain steady, warm, and inviting long after other destinations have closed their seasons. By the time The Ocean Race ends here in 2027, AMAALA will be firmly on the global sailing map.