Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s cruise tourism ambitions are not limited to expanding its cruise ship fleet and adding new ports – it’s even having a private island on the Red Sea to make things happen.
The island – ‘Jabal-Al Sabaya’, unveiled last month – is being developed exclusively for cruise passengers in partnership with PC Marine Services.
“The completely natural island is roughly 220 miles north of Jeddah,” said Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, which is a PIF subsidiary.
“It will have a small jetty. The ship will be at anchor outside, and then there will be a welcome centre, a dining area, cabanas, beach sunbeds, etc. It is exclusively for the Aroya cruise…