Sindalah to transform into global yachting destination  

Sindalah is situated along the coast of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia. Sindalah
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Updated 14 November 2023
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Sindalah to transform into global yachting destination  

 

RIYADH: Prior to Sindalah’s expected opening in 2024, the Saudi dream island is set to transform into a global yachting destination following the signing of an agreement with a leading luxury yacht provider.  

NEOM, the $500 billion giga-project in the Kingdom, announced a collaboration with Burgess to provide a comprehensive range of services to the yachting clientele of Sindalah.  

Situated along the coast of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia, Sindalah is set to be the inaugural asset of the giga-project presenting guests with an idyllic and luxurious lifestyle.  

In a statement, the flagship of Saudi Vision 2030 said that as part of the agreement, Burgess will provide a broad range of luxury services to elevate Sindalah’s global yachting offering.  

It added that services will include yacht management, charter and charter management, sales and purchase as well as yacht insurance, new build and refit projects, yacht marketing and procurement.   

Commenting on the partnership, Antoni Vives, chief urban development, and islands officer at NEOM, said they are committed to becoming a distinctive yachting destination, and deliver world-class services to guests and yachts visiting the Red Sea.  

“We recognize chartering as a critical aspect of the yachting experience. Many of our guests visiting Sindalah will be looking forward to experiencing a nautical lifestyle through chartering a yacht. Also, yacht owners and managers will be happy to offer their prized possessions for chartering in the Red Sea,” he explained.  

Vives added that their partnership with Burgess will help them to ensure that this critical activity is enabled at Sindalah from the time of launch.  

The statement further added that the demand for superyacht services in the region has grown exponentially over the past decade, triggering the decision for Burgess to establish its presence in the Middle East.   

“The company is now perfectly positioned to provide Sindalah guests with the very best in class when it comes to all their yachting needs. From arranging bespoke superyacht charters to managing the logistics of chartering your yacht out in the Red Sea, Burgess has the expertise to ensure a smooth experience for all involved,” the statement explained.  

For his part, Jonathan Hind, managing director, Burgess Middle East, said they are excited to be part of the new development at NEOM.  

He added: “Sindalah will offer superyacht clientele everything they want and need for a fantastic experience, and we will be on hand to make this happen.”  

It is noteworthy that the Sindalah’s location has made it a key stopping point for many regional and European boat and yacht owners. The island resort is in close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, giving easy access to many yachting destinations in under a day through the Suez Canal. 


Philippines in talks to add flights, develop joint tourism promotion with Saudi Arabia

Updated 14 November 2025
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Philippines in talks to add flights, develop joint tourism promotion with Saudi Arabia

  • Philippines developing halal travel as part of its tourism strategy
  • Saudi market is one of Philippines’ most dynamic and high-value markets

MANILA: Philippine officials are in talks with Saudi tourism players to add more flights between their countries and develop a joint travel promotion campaign, the department of tourism said as Manila seeks to strengthen tourism ties with the Kingdom. 

Tourism Undersecretary Verna C. Buensuceso led the Philippine delegation at the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly earlier this month in Riyadh. On the sidelines of the event, she met with Saudia Airlines’ sales general manager, Abdulrahman Alabdulwahab, and Riyadh Air Vice President for Network Planning and Partnerships Wolfgang Reuss.  

They held “separate discussions … on the expansion of air connectivity and the development of joint tourism promotion initiatives,” the tourism department said in a statement. 

With tourism being a key sector for the Philippines, its government has been trying to attract more Middle Eastern visitors by creating Muslim-friendly destinations and ensuring that they have access to halal products and services. 

Saudi travelers are among those contributing to a recent surge in international tourism arrivals from countries in the Middle East and the GCC.

“Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound tourism markets, driven by a young and affluent population with high disposable income for travel. It represents one of our most dynamic and high-value markets in the Middle East,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement. 

“As a destination, the Philippines continues to gain ground among Saudi travelers, recognized for its warm hospitality, competitive value, English-speaking service culture, and growing halal-friendly tourism infrastructure.”

Tourism receipts from the Kingdom were more than $37 million last year, a 46 percent rise from 2023, ministry data showed. While Manila continues to be a top destination for Saudi travelers, Cebu, Boracay, and Pampanga are also among their top choices. 

The predominantly Catholic country — where Muslims constitute about 10 percent of the almost 120 million population — last year also launched a beach dedicated to Muslim women travelers in Boracay, the country’s top resort island and one of the world’s most popular.

Last month, the Philippines launched a “Muslim-Friendly Travelogue,” an official guide for tourists planning trips to the country, covering its Islamic history and heritage, recommendations for destinations, and halal culinary products available in all parts of the archipelago.

In 2024, the Philippines was recognized as a rising Muslim-friendly non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation Destination by the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index, an annual report benchmarking destinations in the Muslim travel market. 

Known for its white-sand beaches, diving spots and rich culture, the Philippines received a similar recognition in 2023.