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Saudi eco-tourism drive continues with Leyja launch

By Pramod Kumar
An artist's impression of the Leyja 'adventure hotel'. The development will spread from Saudi Arabia's Gulf of Aqaba coast and move inland Neom
An artist's impression of the Leyja 'adventure hotel'. The development will spread from Saudi Arabia's Gulf of Aqaba coast and move inland

Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion giga-project Neom has unveiled plans for a sustainable tourism destination built between 400-metre-high mountains.

Leyja will have just 120 rooms and suites, split equally with 40 keys each in three resorts, the company said in a statement. 

The eco-friendly development will spread from the Gulf of Aqaba coast and move inland into the natural valley between the mountains.

In line with Neom’s strategy to designate the majority of its land across its destinations and cities as a nature reserve, 95 percent of Leyja will be preserved for nature with ecological design and construction techniques adopted.

The first property will be for active adventure. The “deconstructed design ascends the walls of the wadi like a staircase, creating minimal disturbance of the terrain’s natural lines”, Neom said.  

An artist's impression of the Leyja Oasis HotelNeom
An artist’s impression of the Leyja Oasis Hotel

The second property rises from the rock to sit prominently at the heart of the wadi’s largest oasis, with a staircase ascending from the canyon.

The third property is an “immersive” wellness retreat with a “hi-tech reflective façade mirroring the surrounding valley walls”. All the hotels will have wellness facilities and rooftop infinity-style pools.

A rendering of Leyja wellness retreat

Located in the northwest of the kingdom, Neom is at the heart of the Vision 2030 drive to diversify the country’s economy. It covers 26,500 sq km and will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. 

Saudi Arabia has been described as the biggest construction site the world has ever seen, with $1.1 trillion of building projects currently in progress across the kingdom.

Neom has already launched Sindalah, a luxury island destination; The Line, a linear city; Trojena, a year-round mountain destination; and Oxagon, an industrial city for advanced and clean industries.

Last month Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the masterplan to develop Soudah and parts of Rijal Almaa into Soudah Peaks in the Aseer region.

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