It's all happening in Saudi Arabia. The Red Sea development, one of the kingdom's many ongoing megaprojects, has launched its first flights to Riyadh.

They connect the new Red Sea International Airport with the capital. Located on the country's west coast, the development is one of the world's most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, spanning more than 28,000 square kilometres of land, including an archipelago of more than 90 islands.

The destination is rapidly taking shape and some of the project's upscale hotels, including an eco-friendly resort carved into the mountains and futuristic overwater villas with views to rival the Maldives, are now taking bookings.

This includes Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, which will be the first to open with stays from December 1. With the Hijaz Mountains as a backdrop, this luxury resort pays homage to Nabataean architecture and its desert surroundings while retaining its trademark wellness approach.

The openings of The St Regis Red Sea Resort and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve are also part of phase one. When it's finished in 2030, the project will have 50 resorts and 8,000 hotel rooms spread over 22 islands and six inland sites.

From one megaproject to another, it was also announced this week that W Hotels will be opening its first resort in Saudi Arabia. It will be developed in the snow-capped mountain destination Trojena in Neom, the $500 billion futuristic megacity being built in Tabuk. Several other hotel groups have already announced plans to open in Neom, including Minor Hotels, Four Seasons, Ennismore, Collective Retreats and GHM Hotels.

Like I said, it's all happening in Saudi Arabia.

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TRAVEL NEWS THIS WEEK

TOP TIPS

Adult-only getaways around the world

• Cape of Senses, overlooking Lake Garda in northern Italy, is a five-star adult-only spa that opened this summer. It’s 200 metres above the lake, offering stunning views of the waters and mountains, and features 55 suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, private pools and free-standing bathtubs. The hotel also has two restaurants and an outdoor heated infinity pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the lake, as well as a 2,000-square-metre spa with holistic treatments.

• Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay in Jamaica is set on a peninsula with more than a kilometre of beach area. This all-inclusive adult-only resort is a tropical retreat that's perfect for a romantic getaway or dream wedding. It's home to 10 restaurants and cafes, a spa, four pools and a promenade where activities are hosted every day, from water sports to bocce ball and an open-air theatre.

• The Verandah Resort & Spa Antigua has had an extensive renovation and will reopen on November 17 as an adult-only resort. This Caribbean waterfront property spans 12 hectares and has two beaches along a palm-lined cove, 180 suites, five restaurants and five pools. New additions include Wicket, a bar that will host movie screenings and late-night karaoke, and four pickleball and tennis courts. There’s a fifth-night-free deal on new bookings made by October 31, valid for travel through March 31.

THE LAST WORD

"Now, with the first flight touching down at Red Sea International Airport, and our first resorts receiving bookings, Saudi Arabia’s position on the global tourism map is all but secured.”

John Pagano, group chief executive of Red Sea Global