A long chain of islands lies off the coast of Makkah Region, many of them still largely untouched. With white sand, turquoise water, healthy coral reefs and rich biodiversity, they are among the Kingdom's most valuable coastal tourism assets and offer strong potential for responsible investment.

The region's western shoreline is attracting growing attention as high-quality marine destinations are developed to sustainability standards, seeking a balance between economic growth and conservation and strengthening the blue economy as a future engine of Saudi growth.

The Saudi Red Sea Authority is guiding this through a regulatory framework that supports responsible development. One example is Thuwal Private Retreat, which Red Sea Global developed, owns and operates on an island in a coral archipelago off Jeddah. The resort hosts one group at a time and tailors experiences to guests' wishes.

Developing islands and coastal sites responsibly, with environmental protection at the core, reinforces the Red Sea's emergence as a global marine destination and Saudi Arabia's competitiveness in sustainable coastal tourism.