![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CXF7LNGQWRFNCPBDXJP2WJTEOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c5aab6649c22f60b679ebe82ce9293df8bfe1863e455c14d1a05160dea87b6a0&width=400&height=225)
The Red Sea Project will turn untouched coastlines, mountains and deserts into one of Saudi Arabia's biggest tourism projects.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CVXKERMPQBFD47J6JTHQLOCUVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=46342654eed494f1e16a948d79d5a07c9f58170c563e2be7d0ad19babc4c3e25&width=400&height=225)
The Red Sea Project will span mountains, islands, wadis and desert.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MNXA5Y2JT5BTNHJN3Z3PYRTB3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2201dd052480e9b9cf8bc5a9d1c96fd1cf2a237b3ba147e60beb93bc0a9db1e3&width=400&height=225)
The first hotel to be announced for the Red Sea Project in western Saudi Arabia is an eco-friendly mountain retreat. Guests can choose a room at the bottom of the mountain, mid-way up or carved into the massif. All photos: RSDC
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T4TSBBIDYBF7BNQLFYSDYXPXYY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=1b24c7175c1d0d421545445eaeec9981e5ca3a51fcbd0df039c4bfb6fe04bfd2&width=400&height=225)
Guests at Desert Rock will look out over an uninterrupted wadi-strewn landscape.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXYUS3NORRFZDHPKH4E4YUYDEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=223b7a60e83e991ea840318a818352f8b45c36cfd12b329d1bcee59166e9ff80&width=400&height=225)
The resort has sustainability as its ethos, with stone from the mountain being used to construct interior and exterior walls.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJXJWB2FUJF6LPKQBYHA5LRW6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f3be27b195fd599b5038c354db2cc8d6b59634db6effd1c5dfa475b4c7f14cb&width=400&height=225)
Access roads are carefully planned to ensure they do not disrupt the landscape. Light pollution will be minimised.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3IOEM2VOBGVHGJ2AAOOVPPFAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f93b1674b6e2de9dc6f3c6fdf4cd17bc3194c9298928ce3c563547e3f16ade52&width=400&height=225)
All rooms at Desert Rock offers endless wadi views of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project landscape.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J2WU2MNSORBXBOW33DAFR5PWGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dba7d3455b557fa93bcc99db22615f9cc852a1b3f7e9fd590ae3d1c07e5e126&width=400&height=225)
Desert Rock will be home to 48 villas and 12 hotel rooms in western Saudi Arabia.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7HZ3VW6CYBFL5KNMSSRT3UOCGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9bea8eb5673f2a294b05b2f3b4653d0b93fd8cdef7ad43564d506535ef6d31f8&width=400&height=225)
Desert Rock is being designed by Oppenheim Architecture. It will reuse excavated stone to create the resort.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKTHIXREDBDF7LJ5BPUSQFCWLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a07d6d51488e7cad74cc517391e69a73bd44a348dc29d651684a95b43961117&width=400&height=225)
Desert Rock is a unique inland experience set to open at the Red Sea Project.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5CWNJWPNNFBVPT5DHUWME7IDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f59ec10a1d08b4694d8fba938fcd5265ab1ee73d004b8d019af49164cf8937a8&width=400&height=225)
The first hotel to be announced at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project is an eco-friendly mountain resort built into the mountains.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IZ7SGZUSBZVI5OSTEA4ZXATTTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd4a59fa37c6559462899375e6fa6df95190a8e1d7e5901d8d329e78633a3586&width=400&height=225)
The Red Sea Development Project will have its own international airport.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2YGXDJRC3TGIFTPOCDIVDUWE4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=da100e11f24df196e9df94443f36167e92974ec20d4e18dc4eefcfb640def6fa&width=400&height=225)
Overwater villas will be another accommodation option at the project on the west coast of Saudi Arabia.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UY5CL7UXQBFFQBUCEZI2L2EGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2dc51b298c99650eb64971e555c45ca3ce4ebf332506a763b0255d5fcdd9b3c&width=400&height=225)
Mountain canyons at the Red Sea Project.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CXF7LNGQWRFNCPBDXJP2WJTEOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c5aab6649c22f60b679ebe82ce9293df8bfe1863e455c14d1a05160dea87b6a0&width=400&height=225)
The Red Sea Project will turn untouched coastlines, mountains and deserts into one of Saudi Arabia's biggest tourism projects.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CVXKERMPQBFD47J6JTHQLOCUVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=46342654eed494f1e16a948d79d5a07c9f58170c563e2be7d0ad19babc4c3e25&width=400&height=225)
The Red Sea Project will span mountains, islands, wadis and desert.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MNXA5Y2JT5BTNHJN3Z3PYRTB3Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2201dd052480e9b9cf8bc5a9d1c96fd1cf2a237b3ba147e60beb93bc0a9db1e3&width=400&height=225)
The first hotel to be announced for the Red Sea Project in western Saudi Arabia is an eco-friendly mountain retreat. Guests can choose a room at the bottom of the mountain, mid-way up or carved into the massif. All photos: RSDC
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T4TSBBIDYBF7BNQLFYSDYXPXYY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=1b24c7175c1d0d421545445eaeec9981e5ca3a51fcbd0df039c4bfb6fe04bfd2&width=400&height=225)
Guests at Desert Rock will look out over an uninterrupted wadi-strewn landscape.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LXYUS3NORRFZDHPKH4E4YUYDEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=223b7a60e83e991ea840318a818352f8b45c36cfd12b329d1bcee59166e9ff80&width=400&height=225)
The resort has sustainability as its ethos, with stone from the mountain being used to construct interior and exterior walls.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SJXJWB2FUJF6LPKQBYHA5LRW6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=5f3be27b195fd599b5038c354db2cc8d6b59634db6effd1c5dfa475b4c7f14cb&width=400&height=225)
Access roads are carefully planned to ensure they do not disrupt the landscape. Light pollution will be minimised.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3IOEM2VOBGVHGJ2AAOOVPPFAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f93b1674b6e2de9dc6f3c6fdf4cd17bc3194c9298928ce3c563547e3f16ade52&width=400&height=225)
All rooms at Desert Rock offers endless wadi views of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project landscape.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J2WU2MNSORBXBOW33DAFR5PWGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0dba7d3455b557fa93bcc99db22615f9cc852a1b3f7e9fd590ae3d1c07e5e126&width=400&height=225)
Desert Rock will be home to 48 villas and 12 hotel rooms in western Saudi Arabia.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7HZ3VW6CYBFL5KNMSSRT3UOCGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9bea8eb5673f2a294b05b2f3b4653d0b93fd8cdef7ad43564d506535ef6d31f8&width=400&height=225)
Desert Rock is being designed by Oppenheim Architecture. It will reuse excavated stone to create the resort.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VKTHIXREDBDF7LJ5BPUSQFCWLI.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a07d6d51488e7cad74cc517391e69a73bd44a348dc29d651684a95b43961117&width=400&height=225)
Desert Rock is a unique inland experience set to open at the Red Sea Project.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P5CWNJWPNNFBVPT5DHUWME7IDY.jpg?smart=true&auth=f59ec10a1d08b4694d8fba938fcd5265ab1ee73d004b8d019af49164cf8937a8&width=400&height=225)
The first hotel to be announced at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project is an eco-friendly mountain resort built into the mountains.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IZ7SGZUSBZVI5OSTEA4ZXATTTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bd4a59fa37c6559462899375e6fa6df95190a8e1d7e5901d8d329e78633a3586&width=400&height=225)
The Red Sea Development Project will have its own international airport.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2YGXDJRC3TGIFTPOCDIVDUWE4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=da100e11f24df196e9df94443f36167e92974ec20d4e18dc4eefcfb640def6fa&width=400&height=225)
Overwater villas will be another accommodation option at the project on the west coast of Saudi Arabia.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UY5CL7UXQBFFQBUCEZI2L2EGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2dc51b298c99650eb64971e555c45ca3ce4ebf332506a763b0255d5fcdd9b3c&width=400&height=225)
Mountain canyons at the Red Sea Project.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CXF7LNGQWRFNCPBDXJP2WJTEOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c5aab6649c22f60b679ebe82ce9293df8bfe1863e455c14d1a05160dea87b6a0&width=400&height=225)
The Red Sea Project will turn untouched coastlines, mountains and deserts into one of Saudi Arabia's biggest tourism projects.
An eco-friendly resort carved in the mountains is coming to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Project
Accessed through a hidden valley, Desert Rock is the first hotel to be announced for the giga-project on the kingdom's west coast
![Hayley Skirka](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5aa171d9-e19e-4724-894f-afdab957726f.png?smart=true&auth=0060497e4d6de279036bf67ee0e69c23726110ddc9067f6419a245b2b05cf91d&width=70&height=70)
Hayley Skirka
27 September, 2021
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