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عربي

SHARAAN RESORT

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THE PROJECT?

Sharaan Resort will be a leading international resort destination – with all the features of a highly sophisticated visitor experience and flawless levels of service – while also allowing guests to experience the tranquillity and seclusion of an untouched desert environment and be exposed to its raw, elemental beauty.
The Royal Commission will create a stunning, truly unique and instantly recognisable piece of architecture – a prized global icon – that respects and responds to the integrity and authenticity of a desert environment that has remained unaltered for millennia.
RCU will create a highly-functional, integrated and self-contained resort that embodies sustainable principles throughout and has a light touch on its precious and fragile surroundings, sympathetic to the character of the desert landscape, ecology and climate.

WHERE WILL THE RESORT BE LOCATED?
Sharaan Resort will be located in a valley deep inside the newly-created Sharaan Nature Reserve, especially chosen for its dramatic landscape configuration made of high clifs, rocky plateaus and spectacular sand dunes.
WHEN IS THE RESORT EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE?
Completion of the resort is expected in 2023.
WHAT ARE THE KEY DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES?

End of 2019 Full design and construction documents completed
Q1 2020 Construction start
2023 Construction completion
2023 Opening

WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED DESIGN ELEMENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT?
The proposed resort design includes accommodation consisting of guest suites, tented pavilions and resort villas, as well as restaurants, a large spa, and other guest amenities. The resort is part of a broader masterplan including an International Summit Centre that will be a global meeting point for world leaders.
WHO ARE THE EXPECTED GUESTS OF THE RESORT?
The resort will cater to discerning travellers keen to be close to nature and excited by culturally and historically rooted experiences.
HOW MANY KEYS AND UNITS DOES THE RESORT CONTAIN?
A total of 40 keys made up of 15 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom guest suites, plus 10 tented guest pavilions and 5 large resort villas ranging from 4 to 10 bedrooms each make up the resort development. In addition the development will feature 40 residential estates.
WHO WILL BE DESIGNING THE RESORT? HOW WERE THEY CHOSEN?
Jean Nouvel and his team, selected through a by-invitation-only international design competition judged by a jury panel of global experts in various relevant disciplines, will be leading the design of the resort.
HOW WILL RCU ENSURE THE DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT HARM THE INTEGRITY OF THE LANDSCAPE OR LOCAL CULTURE?
In this case, the designer has driven the building code, which has produced a result that is thoroughly integrated with its natural surroundings and interprets the cultural heritage of the region. There will be strict and direct oversight and supervision of the design and construction processes by our team.
WHAT WILL MAKE THIS RESORT UNIQUE FROM SIMILAR NATURE-FOCUSED RESORTS?
The interplay between an iconic design rooted in the architectural culture of AlUla and its dramatically unique natural setting will make this resort one-of-a-kind.
IS THIS PROJECT OPEN TO OUTSIDE INVESTMENT?
Yes, outside investment is welcome.
WHERE IS THE BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT COMING FROM?
It is intended that the project will be funded under an Special Purpose Vehicle with outside investors.
HOW DOES THIS PROJECT HELP ACHIEVE VISION 2030 GOALS?
The development of the resort and international summit centre will contribute to the local economy and to Saudi Arabia’s overall GDP, enhancing the tourism economy by bringing in tourists keen to experience the cultural and natural heritage of AlUla. The development is also open to foreign investment, in line with Vision 2030.
HOW WILL THE RESORT BE CONSTRUCTED?
The resort development will be constructed using a combination of mining equipment, tunneling equipment, and standard technology, ensuring that local materials are incorporated in the development.
HOW MANY OTHER RESORTS AND HOTELS EXIST IN ALULA? HOW MANY OTHERS ARE PLANNED FOR DEVELOPMENT?

There is one other luxury resort that has been constructed by RCU at Ashaar and has been fully occupied during the events of the Winter at Tantora Festival. There is currently an undersupply of hotels in the area and the success of events over the last months is an indication of the scale of latent demand in AlUla.
In the first phase of development, RCU will be delivering 1000 keys, shared across a variety of hotel typologies from this high-end exclusive resort offering at Sharaan to small boutique style hotels and luxury tented accommodation.

WHAT ARE RCU’S FUTURE PLANS FOR DEVELOPING THE REGION?
We will be delivering a unique destination, that offers a globally recognized heritage site, that will by 2035, attract two million tourists. RCU will be sculpting a project that integrates the preservation of environment and cultural assets with the construction of a well-planned community.
WHO IS LEADING THIS PROJECT?
The project is being led by the RCU development team.