The first project in Saudi Arabia’s Neom mega-development has opened in the kingdom's Red Sea.
Authorities announced the opening of Sindalah on Sunday. The luxury tourism island features a sprawling marina, five-star hotels and upscale restaurants and shops.
“Neom is committed to supporting the kingdom’s new era of luxury tourism, with the opening of Sindalah,” said Nadhmi Al-Nasr, chief executive of Neom. “Neom's inaugural destination offers visitors a ‘first glimpse’ of what the future holds for our extensive portfolio of destinations and developments.”
Billed as the “first physical showcase of Neom”, the island is the futuristic city's gateway to the Red Sea. With its strategic location, year-round temperate climate and 86-berth marina, Sindalah will appeal to nautical travellers. The Sindalah Yacht Club is the focal point of the marina and is surrounded by hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.
What is Sindalah island?
Spanning about 840,000 square metres, Sindalah island is located 5km off the Red Sea coast in the Tabuk Province. Home to several luxury hotels, including the Four Seasons, The Luxury Collection and Saudi Arabia's first Autograph Collection Resort from Marriott International, the island will boast 440 rooms and 88 luxury villas when complete, as well as 218 luxury serviced apartments.
As Neom's entry point in the Red Sea, the marina destination will also offer offshore buoys for superyachts. Located 17 hours by boat from some of the Mediterranean's primary yachting destinations, Sindalah is designed to appeal to yacht owners from Europe, Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
Underwater adventurers will appreciate the destination's pristine marine ecosystem. The surrounding waters are home to more than 1,000 species of fish, many of which are only found in this region of the Red Sea.
Sindalah is part of the larger Neom project, a futuristic smart city being developed in the kingdom that's part of Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision, which aims to diversify the country’s economy away from oil. First unveiled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017, Neom will be home to smart cities, trade ports, luxury resorts, research centres, entertainment venues and tourist attractions.
What's open at Sindalah island?
While Sindalah has welcomed its first wave of guests, the island is not yet open for tourists to book overnight stays. “Information regarding bookings will be made available through Neom's tourism channels soon,” said the destination in a press release.
An invited group of visitors have explored the island to mark its official opening, Neom authorities said.
Sindalah Yacht Club, with interiors by Italian designer Stefano Ricci, will be among the first places to welcome visitors. Two hotels from Marriott International's The Luxury Collection, including a beach resort with a mix of luxury rooms and suites and an all-suite property in the heart of the retail and marina district, are slated to open by the end of this year.
The Autograph Collection property in Sindalah is also expected to open this year, offering a family-friendly experience with 66 rooms and suites, including one and two-bedroom villas, multiple dining options, a children's club and a spa.
The village and promenade at Sindalah will have 38 culinary offerings when complete. It will also be home to 36 luxury retail outlets, a beach club and beachfront golf club with an 18-hole and two nine-hole experiences.
When fully operational, Sindalah will host a season of curated cultural and sporting events, most of which will take place in the island's purpose-built amphitheatre. It will also have fine-dining menus headed up by chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants.
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Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Five personal finance podcasts from The National
To help you get started, tune into these Pocketful of Dirham episodes
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How gamers are getting rich by earning cryptocurrencies
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Should you buy or rent a home in the UAE?
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Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
