RIYADH — AMAALA, the ultra-luxury destination located along Saudi Arabia's northwestern coastline, has announced the appointment of leading architectural firm Denniston as the master planners for The Island. Chief Executive Officer of AMAALA, Nicholas Naples, said: "AMAALA carves a unique positioning within the global hospitality portfolio, catering to select travelers looking for innovative experiential escapes. Our ambition is to create personalized experiences, catering to the individual needs of each guest. Entrenched in the philosophies of art, wellness, and inspired by the purity of the Red Sea, we are excited to be working alongside Jean-Michel Gathy and Denniston to bring to life our vision for The Island. It is here where our guests will embark on a transformational journey and feed the soul through arts and cultural offerings, with opportunities for philanthropic art co-creation". Representing one of AMAALA's trio of communities, The Island will be the tranquil home of an exclusive art community, and an Arabic botanical garden bestrewn with sculptural pieces. The Island will house masterpieces across four key design elements: a contemporary art museum and academy, a Riviera-lifestyle artists' colony, immersive artistic experiences, and art and sculpture co-creation opportunities. Principal designer of Denniston, Jean-Michel Gathy, said: "The Island development will be an immersive and interactive art-inspired jewel. Its lifestyle components, its landscaping, the museums, and art installations together with the art community will transform this island into the "Diamond of the Red Sea". It will feature many different venues for permanent installations or temporary exhibitions and artistic performances. The graphic layout of its spine will be distinctive from the air and will be recognized internationally as an iconic landmark. The project features all elements programmed and reflects the areas, numbers and facilities. This is truly unique, nothing like it has ever been planned before." The active community of The Island will be anchored by an artists' village of working studios, artisanal shops, galleries, plus exhibition and performance facilities hosting a year-round calendar of immersive, and transformative works, representing the pillar of arts and culture. Fully aligned with Saudi Arabia's ambitions for the future, the development of AMAALA is being rolled out across three key phases, with completion of the destination aimed for ahead of the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030.
