Discovering NEOM: A Destination Like No Other

Since its announcement in 2017, NEOM and its futuristic flagship projects - the horizontal, glass-clad mega-city, THE LINE, and clean-industry hub, Oxagon - have dominated headlines, creating intrigue across the globe. However, these architectural and infrastructural undertakings represent only a part of NEOM’s story. In fact, this flourishing area is rich in natural wonders - the sort that must be seen to be believed.

A recent collaboration with Getty Images and Unsplash saw a team of expert adventure photographers travel to NEOM from all corners of the globe, capturing international imaginations with a series of breathtaking photographs that have already been downloaded in their millions. Now, with Sindalah, NEOM’s first luxury destination, due to welcome guests from 2024, Condé Nast Traveller spoke to some of the project’s guiding lights to find out what exactly awaits prospective visitors to this destination of the future.

A wealth of natural wonders

Occupying a substantial corner of Saudi Arabia, overlooking the Red Sea, NEOM covers an area of roughly 26,500sq km. With a remarkably varied climate that ranges, from winter-sun coastal regions to skiable mountain ranges with natural snow, its landscapes offer endless eye-popping vistas and ancient trails ripe for exploration.

“We have this incredible desert in our upper valley area,” says Paul Marshall, former marine biologist and head of NEOM’s nature reserve. “It has deep, rich, red sand with rocky outcrops, mountains, valleys and chasms, and trees full of figs and all sorts of birds. It's just breathtaking.” NEOM’s pledge to preserve 95 per cent of the region’s land and sea for conservation was integral to the project from the start, and future visitors will even be able to take part in the rewilding and re-greening processes. “This is conservation that's really focused on bringing full ecological connectivity back to environments,” Marshall continues. “We have a chance here to take an active role in reversing desertification.”

Capturing a unique landscape

For Joshua Earle, a seasoned travel photographer and member of the Getty-Unsplash cohort, travelling to NEOM represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture somewhere that felt truly uncharted. “This was kind of my dream project,” he begins. “I’m always looking for wild places to photograph and share with my audience. And NEOM was at the top of that list. It really feels like a place that hasn’t been seen or experienced by many people at all.” Earle’s favourite shot, a fiery sunset scene, shows a small herd of Arabian oryx – newly reintroduced as part of the NEOM rewilding programme – clustered in the shimmering desert. “It’s the kind of shot I could only have dreamt of capturing. It just fell together before my eyes.”

Walking the paths of history

The prospect of stepping into a desert wilderness, populated with native wildlife, will be music to the ears of intrepid adventure travellers worldwide. As well as finding their own, new paths through the landscape, they will also be able to follow roads first walked by the region’s earliest settlers. “The first evidence of prehistoric human settlement we have found in NEOM dates back to 120,000 years ago,” says NEOM’s head of heritage, Marwa Al-Madani, who has been with the project since its inception. “From fertile oases to ancient trade routes and Red Sea ports, NEOM has been a home to many.”

A warm welcome

For Al-Madani, reacquainting the region with its storied past has been a key focus in establishing a sense of identity and soul. As a Saudi native, the project holds personal significance. “We're building a bridge to connect the generations,” she continues, “and this helps to create a vibrant, meaningful culture, one that carries the legacy of this area into the future.” For tourists planning visits to the region, both Al-Madani, and Niall Gibbons, NEOM’s head of tourism, are keen to introduce guests into the distinct warmth of Saudi hospitality, “The welcome of the people here is legendary,” Gibbons explains. “People who visit for the first time are always struck by the hospitality, and I think that sets a really exciting precedent for future visitors.”

According to Gibbons, following an enthusiastic reception from Saudi nationals, next year’s visitors will be the first to experience the true variety of NEOM’s offering. From the aforementioned opportunities for desert exploration to the luxury of Sindalah, there is a wealth of options for guests. With its relaxing beach resorts, where Marriott and Four Seasons are already developing new locations, Sindalah offers world-class amenities including a brand- new golf course. The exclusive island is poised to take its place on the world stage, welcoming the international yachting community, alongside epicurean explorers from near and far.

Sindalah’s impending opening will mark an exciting watershed for NEOM, which has grand plans to set a new standard for global travel. “Using innovative thinking and a sustainable approach, we want to use this opportunity to completely redefine global travel.”

Explore the world of NEOM here.