Saudi Gazette report

AL-ULA — The Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) has entered into a partnership with the world’s leading hotel and resort brand, Aman, which will develop their first three properties in AlUla.

The partnership agreement was signed by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Prince Badr Bin Abdullah and Chairman and Aman CEO Vladislav Doronin marking the brand’s first entry to Saudi Arabia and the region.

Under the terms of a technical services agreement, Aman will develop three distinct luxury resorts of architectural excellence including a tented camp, a resort near Al-Ula’s spectacular heritage areas and a third development as a desert ranch-style resort.

Detailed design work on all three properties is scheduled to commence in the coming months with a development timeline that will welcome the first guests in 2023.

Commenting on the agreement, Prince Badr said: “We are proud to be signing this agreement with a luxury operator who shares our vision of sensitive development that both works with and incorporates the local landscape and culture in a highly sympathetic manner, while demonstrating our commitment to delivering an extraordinary visitor experience in Al-Ula.”

He added: “The decision by Aman to open its first resorts in the Middle East in Al-Ula shows the promise and progress of the vision for Al-Ula to become a worldwide destination for those seeking unique experiences. I believe this partnership will be the next step in the development of the yet to be discovered masterpiece that is Al-Ula.”

RCU and Aman have also signed a partnership to design, manage and brand the destinations as Aman, offering the refined Aman guest experience that goes beyond any expectation.

Aman CEO Doronin welcomed the new partnership and said: “Many of our existing Aman destinations are located in areas of outstanding natural beauty and rich history. With the addition of spectacular Al-Ula, this takes us to ten properties situated near or in UNESCO heritage sites, making it a fitting location for our first destination in the Middle East.”

He added: “Aman is committed to preserving this archeological wonder with our resorts that will blend into the dramatic surroundings. As part of Aman’s pathfinder spirit, we have a continued mission to not only curate resorts of architectural distinction, but to seek out and introduce our guests to new destinations and experiences.”

The Aman partnership is the second major international resort development for the Al-Ula region and follows the planned Jean Nouvel-designed resort within the Sharaan Nature Reserve, showcasing architecture hosted by nature.

This milestone is part of RCU’s overall strategic planning to ensure that Al-Ula welcomes top tourism and hospitality opportunities and attracts more hotel operators, developers and investors to join the Commission on its journey of transformation to build a thriving long-term destination for visitors from around the world.

Such developments create open new opportunities for the local community, and most importantly, the development of these resorts will afford young Saudi nationals from Al-Ula the opportunity to be trained by some of the most globally renowned hospitality professionals in the world.

RCU also plans to hold a series of workshops and seminars aimed at providing information and training to help local people in Al-Ula to benefit from these new exciting career opportunities that are being offered by the hotel sector.