Saudi Arabia Grants New Operating Licences to AMAALA and Shura Marinas, Boosting Red Sea Yachting, Tourism and Marine Services

The tourism industry of Saudi Arabia is gearing up to provide high-end tourism facilities for its Red Sea region following the issuance of licenses to operate by AMAALA Marina and Shura Marina from Saudi Red Sea Authority (SRSA) in preparation of providing services to yachts. The licenses were handed to Red Sea Global (RSG) in Riyadh. This development reflects another stage in the growth of the yachting and coastal tourism sector in the Kingdom.

AMAALA Marina and Shura Marina are part of RSG’s growing marine facilities network and will cater to the needs of yacht owners, yacht captains, crews, and tourists. The project is also contributing towards achieving the goal of Saudi Arabia of developing world-class tourism destinations under Saudi Vision 2030.

AMAALA and Shura Marinas Strengthen Saudi Arabia’s Luxury Marine Tourism Offer

The two licensed facilities provide a combined 278 berths, creating significant additional capacity for yachts travelling along the Saudi Red Sea coast. AMAALA Marina, part of AMAALA Yacht Club, offers 119 berths and can accommodate yachts of up to 120 metres. Shura Marina provides another 159 berths and can also accommodate yachts up to 120 metres. Together, the facilities create a connected yachting proposition covering two major RSG destinations.

The scale of the infrastructure is significant for Saudi Arabia’s developing luxury marine tourism market. Instead of treating marinas as standalone berthing facilities, RSG is linking them with hospitality, leisure and destination experiences. The approach gives yacht owners and charter guests greater opportunities to explore different parts of the Red Sea while accessing coordinated marine services.

New Operating Licences Strengthen Safety and Environmental Standards

The licences have been issued under the Regulation for the Design and Operation of Tourist Marinas administered by the Saudi Red Sea Authority. The regulatory framework establishes requirements covering health, safety and environmental protection, alongside standards governing marina design and daily operations. Their regulation requires tourist marina operators to secure an operating licence and comply with requirements established by the Authority.

It also covers operational issues such as navigation, risk management, emergency procedures, waste management and protection of marine environments. Tourist marinas are expected to provide suitable infrastructure for water and fuel services, safe electrical charging, sewage and waste facilities and appropriate navigation systems. Environmental protection is also built into the regulatory framework, including measures to prevent pollution and protect marine wildlife. This framework gives yacht operators and investors clearer requirements while supporting consistent standards across Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastal tourism sector.

RSG’s Yachting Network Connects 278 Berths Across Two Destinations

The new licences complement RSG’s recently launched Yachting Network, which brings its marina and yacht club operations together under a unified management structure. The network was launched in September 2026 to provide yacht owners, charter guests, captains and crews with a more connected way to explore the Red Sea.

From winter 2026, private and charter yachts travelling along Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast can access the AMAALA-Shura corridor through a single berthing arrangement. The network currently connects the 119-berth AMAALA Marina with the 159-berth Shura Marina, creating access to 278 berths across the two destinations. RSG plans to add further marinas and anchorages to the network in 2027, potentially expanding the marine tourism ecosystem further.

AMAALA Yacht Club Adds Luxury Hospitality to the Marina Experience

The yachting experience at AMAALA extends beyond berthing. The AMAALA Yacht Club has a clubhouse covering approximately 7,900 square metres, providing facilities and services for yacht owners and visitors. Their club forms part of AMAALA Marina Village and connects marine activities with the wider destination. AMAALA Yacht Club officially began operations in September 2026, welcoming founding members and visiting yachts.

The development is positioned as a gateway to AMAALA, RSG’s ultra-luxury wellness destination, while providing access to the wider Red Sea coastline. RSG describes the destination as a new winter cruising hub for the international luxury yachting community. Its location offers access between Mediterranean and Indian Ocean cruising routes.

Shura Marina Expands Access to Saudi Arabia’s Island Tourism Development

Shura Marina provides a second major hub within RSG’s marine tourism network. Located on Shura Island, the marina serves the wider The Red Sea destination and provides direct access to its developing hospitality and leisure infrastructure.

The marina includes 159 berths for yachts up to 120 metres, creating capacity for both visiting and longer-stay vessels. The Red Sea destination is already expanding its luxury tourism infrastructure, with resorts, aviation connectivity and marine facilities developing together. Saudi Arabia’s 2025 Vision 2030 annual report identifies the Red Sea as an emerging coastal tourism destination, with resorts and visitor infrastructure expanding along the shoreline.

New Marine Network Creates More Seamless Yacht Travel Across the Red Sea

The unified Yachting Network is intended to make cruising between RSG destinations easier. Previously, yacht owners and operators could need to manage separate arrangements for different marinas. The new structure brings marine services under one operating network. For yacht owners and charter guests, this can simplify access to berthing and destination services.

For captains and crews, coordinated management can reduce operational complexity when moving between destinations. The network also creates opportunities to combine multiple luxury destinations within one Red Sea itinerary. This model reflects the changing expectations of high-end travellers, who increasingly seek seamless journeys that combine accommodation, dining, wellness, recreation and personalised marine experiences.

Saudi Arabia Builds Coastal Tourism Around Sustainability and Marine Protection

The marina expansion is taking place within a regulatory environment that places strong emphasis on environmental management. The SRSA regulations require tourist marinas to take measures to protect marine wildlife and the surrounding environment. Operators must also implement systems designed to prevent pollution from waste and oil, manage safety risks and maintain appropriate emergency procedures.

The regulations address navigation, crowd management, weather warnings, communication systems and lifesaving equipment. These requirements are particularly relevant to the Red Sea, where marine ecosystems form an important part of the destination’s tourism appeal. Responsible marina development can therefore support tourism growth while maintaining the environmental qualities that attract yacht owners and visitors.

Red Sea Yachting Supports Saudi Vision 2030 Tourism Ambitions

The development of AMAALA and Shura marinas aligns with Saudi Arabia’s wider Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy, attract investment and establish the Kingdom as a global destination. Vision 2030 identifies the Red Sea as an important emerging coastal tourism destination, supported by new resorts, infrastructure and international connectivity. The yachting sector adds another high-value segment to this tourism ecosystem.

Luxury marine tourism can connect visitors with remote coastal destinations while supporting hospitality, leisure and marine-service businesses. The development also creates opportunities for private investment and specialist tourism services as Saudi Arabia builds a more comprehensive coastal tourism economy.

AMAALA and Shura Marinas Position Red Sea as Emerging Global Yachting Destination

These new licences serve as another significant step towards the fast-growing Red Sea tourism in Saudi Arabia. The fact that there are 278 berths in total, space for yachts up to 120 metres long, AMAALA Yacht Club, and the unified Yachting Network is the proof that RSG is developing a comprehensive platform of marine tourism growth.

The involvement of SRSA in the regulation process means that there are also specific criteria for safety, protection of the environment, and the quality of services provided. In total, all of these initiatives create the infrastructure necessary for the growing market of yachting in the Kingdom. In particular, since the other marinas and anchorages are to be included in the network by 2027, it means that the Kingdom’s strategy for the Red Sea goes beyond the development of resorts.