Shura Island
Shura Island, also known as Shurayrah, is a resort island in the Red Sea coast of Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia. Shura is the main island of The Red Sea Project, a tourism megaproject that is being constructed on a 92-island archipelago off the Red Sea coast.
Location
The 5.6 km2 island is located on the west coast of Saudi Arabia between the cities of Umluj and Al-Wajh, 0.9 nautical miles off the coast. The island is one of 92 islands that lie within an archipelago in Al Wajh lagoon, a pristine 2,081 km2 area that includes valuable habitats and species of global conservation importance.The island's natural shape has been described as resembling the outline of a dolphin.
Background
Shura is home to "Coral Bloom", The Red Sea Project's most ambitious construction design. Coral bloom includes hotels from 11 different brands. Coral Bloom was designed by the London-based architecture firm Foster and Partners.In addition, the island includes Saudi Arabia's first 18-hole golf course and clubhouse. The 7,500 yard course was designed by Brian Curley, with the clubhouse designed by Foster + Partners and is expected to open in 2025.
Shura is linked to the mainland by Saudi Arabia's longest water bridge, which stretches a total of 1.2 km. The bridge was designed and constructed by Athens-based construction firm Archirodon.
History
Shura island remained uninhabited and undeveloped for most of its history until a plan to develop the red sea coast of the Saudi Arabia was announced in July 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of Saudi Vision 2030 to develop the kingdom's tourism sector. The island is developed by Red Sea Global, previously "The Red Sea Development Company", which is one of the various companies owned by the Public Investment Fund.List of hotels
Shura is home to different hotels from various brands. The following is a list of all 11 hotels on Shura Island:| Hotel | Manager | Capacity | Ref |
| Grand Hyatt The Red Sea | Hyatt | 430 keys | |
| Four Seasons Resort Red Sea at Shura Island | Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts | 149 keys | |
| Faena The Red Sea | Faena | 150 keys | |
| Fairmont Red Sea | Fairmont Hotels and Resorts | 200 keys | |
| The Red Sea Edition | Edition Hotels | 240 keys | |
| InterContinental The Red Sea | InterContinental | 210 keys | |
| Raffles The Red Sea | Raffles Hotels & Resorts | 200 keys | |
| Jumeirah The Red Sea | Jumeirah (hotel chain) | 159 keys | |
| Rosewood The Red Sea | Rosewood Hotel Group | 200 keys | |
| Miraval The Red Sea | Miraval Resorts | 180 keys | |
| SLS The Red Sea | SLS Hotels | 153 keys |