In the Gulf of Aqaba in north-west of Saudi Arabia, Zardun is being created. NEOM the mega-project has opened a nature park surrounded by three hotels and a visitor center in Zardun, the latest region chosen for tourism development in Saudi Arabia. This particular area of the Arabian Desert is an ideal destination for living the desert. A luxury ecotourism sanctuary. Zardun is an exclusive resort developed by NEOM. This is a sustainable region that is taking shape in the north-west of the Saudi Kingdom. “Zardun is a very ambitious plan to bring back plants and animals that used to live in the Gulf of Aqaba. Zardun is a new beginning,” explained Chris van Duijn, partner at OMA.
Luxury and nature
Zardun is designed to perfectly blend contemporary luxury with nature. This unique destination is the latest in a series of coastal resources and is part of ongoing development throughout the NEOM region.
Zardun overlooks the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Aqaba. It is a resort surrounded by nature that will house four exclusive ultra-luxury buildings. According to the plans, Zardun’s four buildings will blend harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Even there was talk of a project “intended to redefine luxury in an environmental context.” In fact, Zardun aims to offer the best elegant ecotourism experience for discerning guests.
From the mountains to the seashore
Covering as much as four square kilometers, Zardun will be a carefully restored ecological refuge filled with native plants and animals. It will extend from the mountains to the seashore. And its breathtaking beauty will be experienced upon arrival by visitors in its state-of-the-art Experience Center including a 360-degree observation platform. Zardun will include three distinct and luxurious boutique hotels. The hotels will offer a total of 100 rooms and suites. All will be themed on a vision of a more sustainable future in a totally restored and redeveloped environment.
Sports and recreation
The building program is very rich. Each hotel will have a different theme. This will provide guests with a range of experiences that include wonderful views of a beautiful valley and the sea. Zardun will offer hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, a variety of other sports and recreational activities including stargazing, meditation and yoga. In addition, guests will be invited to participate in educational and field programs regarding nature protection, conservation and re-wilding.
Sustainability strategy
Zardun’s sustainability strategy encompasses all aspects of environmental management. And it will include the creation of a series of oases to support different habitats. These life-giving water sources will facilitate the reintroduction and feeding of native animals, tree and plant species. Along its coastline Zardun will support a vital ecosystem including the conservation of coral reefs and marine life in the Gulf of Aqaba, demonstrating NEOM’s ongoing commitment to environmental conservation.
Guests are greeted with total surprise: suddenly they see the landscape that was once there, from small insects to birds and mammals
Questions and controversies
According to some critical voices, this intervention is not exactly what you would want to see in a nature park: a looming tower and obtrusive hotels. In fact, the NEOM mega-project is embedded in a unique wildlife park. In addition to the three hotels and visitor center, the development region is part of a comprehensive environmental tourism program.
Thinking about the future of the planet
Chris Van Duijn, of the prestigious Dutch firm OMA, presented one of the hotels, l-Adventure Hotel, in these terms. It is a center for tourists to engage in rock climbing and other activities. The structure unfolds as a vertical element with a deconstructed design, similar to a cliff-top staircase ascending the wadi with minimal impact on the ground. It is joined by Mario Cucinella Architects ‘Oasis Hotel, which emerges from the rocks with five façade fins, serving as a gateway for exploration with panoramic views of the valley. Reflecting the natural setting, Killa Design then proposes a Wellness Hotel, an immersive retreat with two contrasting volumes adorned with high-tech reflective facades.
The evolution of NEOM
According to Van Duijn, the hotels and nature park represent the thinking behind NEOM’s broader development. “We have to think about the future of the planet,” he said. “It’s not even a question of whether we want to do it or not, we have to do it. This is the scale of thinking here at NEOM.” “Zardun is a new movement to transform the way we live and the way we coexist on the planet,” he added.
We need to think about the future of the planet. It is not even a question of whether we want to do it or not, we have to do it. This is the scale of thinking here in Neom
NEOM, in Saudi Arabia, is a project based on a total area of 26,500 km². And it was designed around environmental management, including the creation of a series of oases, to support different habitats and facilitate the reintroduction and nurturing of native animals, trees and plant species. It reinforces the thrust of Saudi Vision 2030, toward a stronger but also more sustainable tourism industry, with wildlife park where animals and plants that previously lived in the region will be reintroduced.
Zardun is a new movement to transform the way we live and the way we coexist on the planet
Chris van Duijn, partner at OMA, explained: “Guests are greeted with total surprise: suddenly they see the landscape that used to be there, from small insects to birds and mammals,” he continued. “They see the Nubian ibex and the Arabian oryx, animals that are all extinct in this area. It’s almost like time travel.”
Further developments
In addition to the developments on the Gulf of Aqaba, NEOM will also build an octagon-shaped port city designed by the Danish firm BIG. A ski resort called Trojena. And a 170-kilometer-long city called The Line, which was recently listed as “a substantial risk to migratory species.” In addition to its critical environmental issues, the larger project has also been criticized on human rights grounds by the ALQST organization. In short, Zardun, and the NEOM project, move among questions, controversy, and opportunity.
To learn more: NEOM
You may also be. interested in: The Green Energy Boom: ensuring a just transition
