The Royal Commission for Al Ula (RCU) has announced a partnership with hotel and resort brand Aman to develop its first three properties in the region.
The partnership agreement was signed by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, the Governor of the Royal Commission for Al Ula, and Vladislav Doronin, Aman’s chairman and CEO.
Under the terms of the agreement, Singapore-based 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 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, a statement said.
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.”
Doronin also welcomed the new partnership, saying: “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 10 properties situated near or in UNESCO heritage sites, making it a fitting location for our first destination in the Middle East.”
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.
All three projects will embrace eco-tourism standards in line with RCU’s commitment to responsible development as outlined in its charter.
Arabian Business
05/08/2019
