RIYADH: Two Red Sea Global resorts have become the first in the world to earn a new certification recognizing hospitality destinations that protect natural night skies, marking a milestone in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to advance regenerative tourism and sustainable hospitality.
Desert Rock and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, are the first recipients of the DarkSky Approved Resort certification, launched by Red Sea Global in partnership with DarkSky International.
The new global standard recognizes large-scale resorts that reduce light pollution through responsible outdoor lighting while protecting biodiversity and enhancing stargazing experiences.
The certification expands DarkSky International’s lodging program, introduced in 2023, to address the unique operational needs of large resorts, which require more extensive outdoor lighting and infrastructure than conventional hotels.
“Red Sea Global is integrating responsible lighting into every stage of development to protect the ecological integrity of the night environment,” Raed Al-Basseet, Red Sea Global’s group chief environment and sustainability officer, said in a statement.
“Through our collaboration with DarkSky International, RSG is setting a new benchmark for regenerative tourism, demonstrating that preserving natural darkness not only safeguards biodiversity and ecological processes, but also enriches the guest experience through authentic connections with nature.”
Desert Rock is among the first recipients of the DarkSky Approved Resort certification, launched by Red Sea Global in partnership with DarkSky International. (Supplied)
The initiative comes as interest in astrotourism grows worldwide, with travelers increasingly seeking destinations that offer pristine night skies alongside nature-based experiences. It also reflects global efforts to reduce light pollution, which disrupts ecosystems, wastes energy, contributes to climate change and obscures the night sky.
DarkSky International said the new certification was developed after determining that its original lodging standards did not fully address the operational needs of large-scale resorts.
“Red Sea Global’s commitment to sustainable, DarkSky-friendly design created an opportunity to evolve our lodging program,” Ruskin Hartley, CEO and executive director of DarkSky International, said in a statement.
“Together, we developed resort-specific lighting best practices that recognize the unique needs of large hospitality destinations while upholding DarkSky’s rigorous standards for protecting the night.”
Hartley added that the rapid growth of astrotourism is making dark-sky destinations increasingly attractive to travelers seeking authentic outdoor experiences.
Majed Abu Zahra, president of the Jeddah Astronomical Society and a member of Astronomers Without Borders, said the certification marks an important step in environmental conservation and reflects growing international recognition of the need to reduce light pollution.
“Dark skies are no longer important only to astronomers or stargazing enthusiasts,” he told Arab News. “They have become a natural resource worthy of protection because of their environmental, tourism and scientific value.”
He said responsible outdoor lighting reduces unnecessary energy use while protecting wildlife that depends on natural light and darkness cycles, including species whose feeding, migration and reproduction are guided by nighttime conditions.
“It also provides ideal conditions for observing the stars, the Milky Way and other astronomical phenomena,” Abu Zahra said.
“This creates promising opportunities to develop astrotourism in Saudi Arabia, particularly in regions with exceptionally dark skies and low levels of light pollution, further strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global destination that combines environmental sustainability with world-class stargazing experiences.”
To earn the DarkSky Approved Lodging or Resort certification, properties must demonstrate exceptional night-sky quality, implement responsible outdoor lighting practices and undergo a rigorous review by DarkSky International’s lighting specialists.
Red Sea Global operates 15 resorts across three destinations and plans to expand DarkSky compliance across its portfolio as more properties open.
Owned by the Public Investment Fund, the developer is building several tourism destinations as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy through sustainable tourism while advancing environmental conservation.
