Plan For Middle East ‘Riviera’ Revealed

Award-winning French-Belgian architect, Jean-Michel Gathy, has been named as the Master Planner for Saudi Arabia’s new ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ on Amaala Island

Representing one of AMAALA’s trio of communities, The Island will be the tranquil home of an exclusive art community, and an Arabic botanical garden filled with sculptural pieces.

The Island will house masterpieces across four key design elements: a contemporary art museum and academy, a Riviera-lifestyle artists’ colony, immersive artistic experiences, and art and sculpture co-creation opportunities.

The active community of The Island will be anchored by an artists' village of working studios, artisanal shops, galleries, plus exhibition and performance facilities hosting a year-round calendar of immersive, and transformative works, representing the pillar of arts and culture.

Fully aligned with Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for the future, the development of AMAALA is being rolled out across three key phases, with completion of the destination planned in time for Saudi Vision 2030.

Multi-award winning architect Gathy, who works for Denniston, a firm providing design services to the worldwide hospitality sector, is a specialist in his field.

He said: “The AMAALA Island development will be an immersive and interactive art-inspired jewel. Its lifestyle components, its landscaping, the museums, and art installations together with the art community will transform this island into the “Diamond of the Red Sea.”
“It will feature many different venues for permanent installations or temporary exhibitions and artistic performances. The graphic layout of its spine will be distinctive from the air and will be recognised internationally as an iconic landmark. This is truly unique, nothing like it has ever been planned before.”

Chief Executive Officer of AMAALA, Nicholas Naples, said: “AMAALA carves a unique positioning within the global hospitality portfolio, catering to select travellers looking for innovative experiential escapes.

"Entrenched in the philosophies of art, wellness, and inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, we are excited to be working alongside Jean-Michel Gathy and Denniston to bring to life our vision for The Island. It is here where our guests will embark on a transformational journey and feed the soul through arts and cultural offerings, with opportunities for philanthropic art co-creation.”

Designed to evolve and elevate the very best in travel, AMAALA, located along Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast, is an ultra-luxury destination that focuses on curating transformative personal journeys inspired by arts, wellness and the purity of the Red Sea.

Set in the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nature Reserve across three unique communities, the 3,800-square kilometres (1,460-square miles) year-round destination will include 2,500 hotel keys and more than 800 residential villas, apartments and estate homes, alongside 200 high-end retail establishments, fine dining, wellness and recreation.

AMAALA’s trio of communities – Triple Bay, Coastal Development and The Island – will represent three different sets of experiences for visitors:

Triple Bay will offer a fully holistic wellness retreat, state-of-the-art diagnostic medical facilities and authentic treatments designed to feature the local environment. Triple Bay will also be home to a fully integrated sports and entertainment community.
The Coastal Development is set to become the defining hub of contemporary art in the Middle East, playing host to a dynamic programme of exciting events from the global arts and cultural calendar.
The Island will be the tranquil home of an exclusive art community, and an Arabic botanical garden complemented by a collection of sculptural pieces. The unique heritage and unspoiled landscape of AMAALA will allow travellers to immerse themselves in the finest wellness, art, culture, sports and fitness offerings. With close proximity to major destinations in the region, including Riyadh, Dubai and Istanbul, AMAALA will become the heart of The Riviera of the Middle East.