Saudi private island cruise destination celebrates soft launch

Red Sea resort will be exclusively accessible to cruise line passengers

A new private island for cruises passengers has partially opened in the heart of the Red Sea.

The soft launch of Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya saw the first passengers gain an exclusive experience of the private island on 21 December 2024.

Jabal AlSabaya, roughly 220 nautical miles from Jeddah, will be exclusively accessible to cruise line passengers.

On completion, facilities will include a floating park, a restaurant, a shisha lounge, shops, a private beach, beachside cabanas and villas, a spa, and a range of water activities together including snorkelling excursions.

The development of the private island is part of Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Cruise Saudi’s mission to position Saudi as a prominent destination for cruising. 

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Chief executive Lars Clasen said: “Since the inception of Cruise Saudi, our vision has been to create unique and exceptional cruise experiences for passengers from around the world. 

“The launch of Saba Beach represents not only a world-class destination but also our commitment to enhancing Saudi’s tourism industry. We are opening up a truly unique area of the region and look forward to welcoming cruise passengers from around the world.”

Chief destination experiences officer Barbara Buczek added: “The soft launch of Saba Beach on Jabal AlSabaya is another pioneering and innovative development in the creation of Saudia Arabia’s cruise sector.

“At the heart of what we offer is the guest experience, showcasing Saudi’s incredible and diverse natural assets, culture and history to our passengers and the launch of Saba Beach represents a milestone in bringing a previously unseen Saudi to the local, regional and international markets.”

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