Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) attracted more than 100,000 visitors last year, a sign that the planned mega city about 100 miles north of Jeddah on the Red Sea might become Saudi Arabia’s next domestic tourist destination.
Although Saudi citizens typically flock to Dubai, Bahrain, or elsewhere abroad for leisure trips, that might be changing. Suitable vacation spots along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast may soon challenge foreign destinations for leisure days – and dollars – of Saudis.
KAEC, designed to be “a megacity for the future built on the Red Sea” focused on industrial development and ports, is also attracting tourists who find the quick getaway destination suitable due to the new, family-friendly developments there as well as the temperate weather. “KAEC’s Destination 2020 strategy is focused on meeting pent-up demand within the country for leisure and business tourism,” said Fahd Al-Rasheed, Group CEO and Managing Director of KAEC in a Saudi Gazette article. “The success of the Bay La Sun District and its emerging status as the best weekend break in the country is evidence of growing interest in a relaxed, family-oriented holiday destination that is in keeping with the national culture.”
But KAEC’s developments may eventually compete with other forthcoming tourist destinations along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. “We have a very magnificent area north of Jeddah, between the cities of Umluj and Wuj, there are almost 100 islands there, in one atoll. The temperature is ideal, five to seven degrees cooler than Jeddah. It’s virgin land, I spent the last eight holidays there,” Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in a recent interview with the Economist. “I was shocked to discover something like this in Saudi Arabia, and there were steps taken to preserve this land, 300km by 200km. This is one of the assets that we target, and we believe it has an added value other than generating income for state funds.”
Additionally, tourism authorities in Saudi Arabia have announced that 66 islands to the south of Jeddah, close to Jazan on the coast are “ready for investment.” According to the UK-based Telegraph, The Farasan Islands “have been earmarked thanks to their clear blue seas, white sandy beaches and coral reefs….Although basic facilities such as piers, toilets and umbrellas exist on the main three islands – Farasan, Sajid and Muharraq – authorities hope to see more development, including high-end accommodation.” The relevant Saudi authorities are hoping to attract luxury hotel developers to build “scuba diving, spa and resort facilities” on the three main islands, according to the report.
The Farasan Islands gained some international interest after a New York Times reporter, Ben Hubbard, travelled there and other parts of the Kingdom and wrote an essay for the newspaper, entitled, ‘In Saudi Arabia, A Kingdom to Myself.”
Saudi Arabia currently plays host to the largest annual human migration, the Hajj, but otherwise, foreign tourism into Saudi Arabia has been minimal. Currently, Saudi Arabia does not issue foreign tourist visas.
