red sea reveals advancements on oppenheim architecture's desert rock resort in saudi arabia

Red Sea shares Desert Rock Construction Progress

Following the construction updates on Shura Island and Sheybarah Island, the Red Sea Project now unveils advancements on the Desert Rock resort in Saudi Arabia. Designed by Oppenheim architecture, the structure gently nestles amid the grand granite mountains, offering guests an immersive connection with nature while protecting the environment.

Recent footage showcases the remarkable strides achieved during the project’s six-year evolution. In the video released by Red Sea Global, Executive Director Matthew Cossins enthusiastically shares, ‘On Desert Rock, we’ve been making fantastic progress across the whole project. If we look at overall progress, we’re sitting at 52%. Looking at construction progress, we’re around about 26-27%.’

Desert Rock nestles amid the grand granite mountains in Saudi Arabia | image: screenshot, Six Years of Progress at The Red Sea, courtesy Red Sea Global

Desert Rock Resort by Oppenheim Architecture

Perched within a secluded valley and cradled amidst the mountains, Desert Rock offers guests the opportunity to deeply engage with nature. The design by Oppenheim Architecture (find more here) melds with the mountainside, preserving its distinctive form. Each room provides generous vistas stretching out to the horizon, allowing guests to absorb the striking desert panorama. Sustainability principles have been interwoven throughout the resort, with detailed engineering aimed at minimizing energy consumption and fostering the regeneration of local flora. Through the use of natural materials and seamless integration of the structure into the rock formations, guests are offered a tangible connection to the surroundings.

Based on the information presented by Red Sea Global (find more here), the construction team has completed the construction of 195 meters of the Desert Rock tunnel. The team’s current focus is directed toward finalizing the crevice units and the tunnel, enabling the subsequent phases of pathway construction and infrastructure installation to begin. Progress is also evident in the development of the self-sustaining structures and additional water units. Within six out of the nine units, the team has already commenced internal MEP service installations.‘It’s taking shape,’ Cossins says. ‘Bringing each of the assets together, (…) seeing the pathways go up and form, (…) getting to the end of the tunnel is a super achievement for us.’ He goes on to explain that every aspect of the project is critical because of both logistics and the difficult terrain of the area. ‘For us to actually be making this happen in this terrain, it’s fantastic,’ he adds.

Upon its final completion in 2030, the destination will comprise 50 resorts, offering up to 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties across 22 islands and six inland sites. The retreat will also include luxury marinas, golf courses, entertainment, leisure facilities, and an international airport.

‘if we look at overall progress, we’re sitting at 52%’ shares the team at Red Sea Global | image: screenshot, Six Years of Progress at The Red Sea, courtesy Red Sea Global

the design by Oppenheim Architecture melds with the mountainside | image: screenshot, Six Years of Progress at The Red Sea, courtesy Red Sea Global

progress is also evident in the development of the self-sustaining structures and additional water units | image: screenshot, Six Years of Progress at The Red Sea, courtesy Red Sea Global

within six out of the nine units, the team has already commenced internal MEP service installations | ‘image: screenshot, Six Years of Progress at The Red Sea, courtesy Red Sea Global