`Sinister` amazing Saudi island inspired by coral reefs

Weather of Arabia - a new destination that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is preparing to include in its luxury tourism projects, which is the "Sinister" island, which serves as the main gateway to the Red Sea project.

The dolphin-like island "Sinister" is located in the Red Sea project on the western coast of Saudi Arabia. It is among the 92 islands in the project, and is home to the fourth largest reef in the world, including an untouched coral reef.

Coral Bloom concept of resorts and hotels on an island

And because the experience of the guests on the island of "Evil" is one of the first priorities in the design plans of the project, so the picturesque landscape of the island will be used to create an exciting effect with all the hotels and villas that blend with the natural environment, as if emanating from it.

Created by British design and architecture firm Foster & Partners, Coral Bloom's concept of resorts and hotels on Sinister Island is "in harmony with the island's pristine natural environment".

The concept of Coral Bloom is inspired by the thriving, untouched coral reefs. The design responds to the palette of natural colors throughout the island ranging from the muted hues of the sand, to the colors of native plants and the stunning hues of the sea, according to Pagano.

“We are fortunate that our destination has some of the best preserved coral reefs in the world,” says Pagano. “We wanted to reflect the beauty of these coral reefs in sinister island designs.”

The concept of Coral Bloom is inspired by the thriving, untouched coral reefs. The design responds to the palette of natural colors throughout the island from the pale tones of the sand, to the colors of native plants and the stunning tones of the seaCredit: THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

The vision behind developing the destination is to “create a sustainable future,” says Pagano, who notes that they intend not only to conserve and protect the natural environment, but also to enhance the natural beauty and biodiversity of the area.

In order to achieve the islands' sustainable vision, Pagano points out that light, nature-inspired building materials will be used, and they will be low-impact.

It is worth noting that the project is in the process of constructing the world’s largest cooling plant operating on renewable energy 24 hours a day to facilitate efficient central cooling, and the entire destination is scheduled to operate on renewable energy sources 24 hours a day without a connection to the national grid, supported by the largest storage system batteries in the world today.

On environmental issues, Pagano stresses that the Coral Bloom concept is designed to implement a sustainable approach, where biodiversity considerations have been central to designs, with plans designed to protect the island's natural fringes, where the majority of the islands' flora and fauna are found, including important mangrove habitats.

Credit: THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

The island will feature 11 hotels and resorts, and will be operated by some of the world's most prominent hotel brands, providing 2,500 rooms and 75 golf villas.

The island will provide avenues of hospitality and entertainment, including a range of fine restaurants serving a range of international cuisine, with retail and entertainment facilities, in addition to marinas and luxury spas.

The 18-hole golf course will offer views of the lagoon, desert dunes and mangroves. With half the holes around the perimeter of the island, players will feel like they are on a remote island while golfing.

Credit: THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

Regarding the categories that the destination aspires to attract, Pagano confirms: “We will welcome visitors from all over the world, as our destination is located at the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and 250 million people will be able to reach it within three hours of flying, while 80% will be able to The world's population can reach it in an eight-hour journey."

As for considerations of the “Covid-19” pandemic, Pagano says: “Travelers’ preferences continue to evolve as a result of the pandemic, which is something we took into account when designing hotels on the island, and hotels do not have internal corridors, for example, in response to the increasing demand for space. And seclusion,” he added, “We want guests to be able to explore the beautiful destination, feeling comfortable and safe, in doing so.”

Credit: THE RED SEA DEVELOPMENT COMPANY

Visitor numbers will be limited to avoiding overtourism, with the total number of visitors reaching one million by 2030 when the destination is fully completed, Pagano said.

The Coral Bloom concept is within the first phase of development, which is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Pagano explains that the first phase consists of 16 hotels on 5 islands and two indoor resorts, and the first hotels will be completed by the end of 2022 along with the international airport, providing an opportunity to welcome the first guests next year.

2. Sand falls in the desert

Picture a waterfall made of sand: This is the closest description of a sand waterfall. Although this natural phenomenon is rare, it has been observed in Saudi Arabia in the Aflaj and outside Riyadh, and its occurrence is usually associated with heavy rain.