The highly anticipated AMAALA Yacht Club, located on the Saudi Red Sea coast in the north-west of the country, has officially opened.

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In a press release published on Monday 14 September, John Pagano, the group CEO of Red Sea Global, wrote that “AMAALA Yacht Club marks the emergence of a truly global yachting destination, offering unparalleled access to the stunning Saudi Red Sea coast”.

The release pointedly notes that AMAALA is positioned around 2,000 nautical miles from Monaco and is closer to the Mediterranean than the Caribbean. Described as “marking a major milestone in establishing the Saudi Red Sea as a new global destination for yachting”, AMAALA is a centrepiece in the country’s attempt to rival the Caribbean as a northern hemisphere winter yachting destination. AMAALA has average temperatures of 26°C throughout the season and average lows of 23°C, and is located 45 minutes from Alwajh International Airport.

AMAALA Marina features 119 berths and can accommodate superyachts of more than 100 metres long. The marina will also eventually offer a range of other marine services, including fuelling with maintenance and repair facilities. According to AMAALA, berthing and mooring fees are comparable to leading European yachting destinations while yacht owners that purchased permanent moorings benefit from a “range of exclusive privileges through selected resort partners”.

Within the 7,900-square-metre AMAALA Yacht Club, there are a range of dining and social spaces, including AMAALA Lounge, ANQA, 27°C and The Deck, alongside a rooftop pool, private meeting suites and areas for social gatherings and events. The destination also has several newly opened luxury branded resorts, including Four Seasons, Six Senses, Rosewood, Equinox and Nammos. Two additional resorts will open in the coming months.

Designed by HKS Architects, the yacht club draws inspiration from the sculpted rock formations of the Red Sea coastline, expressed through its cantilevered terraces, maritime heritage and traditional Arabian architectural forms.

The AMAALA Yacht Club Academy will also offer sailing programmes and watersports experiences, as well as host a series of international yachting events throughout the year, including being a “centrepiece” of the Grand Finale of The Ocean Race 2027.

“AMAALA Yacht Club is a new home for the yachting world – from superyacht owners cruising the Red Sea for the first time, to the sailors who will build a racing culture here,” added Adrian Peet, general manager of AMAALA Yacht Club.

“We've built a marina and a clubhouse to welcome every kind of yacht, an academy that will bring the next generation of Saudi sailors onto the water, and a destination built for a full season, not one type of vessel. What opens today is the foundation for everything this coastline will become.”

Images from AMAALA Yacht Club.