Extravagance at Aquellum

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM – the Kingdom’s $500 billion mega business and tourism project – has unveiled its latest luxury destination; mountain resort Aquellum.

Billed as an “experiential space embedded within the mountains”, NEOM said Aquellum is hidden within a 450-meter-high mountain range. To access the resort, visitors will embark on the world’s first floating marina and board a specially designed vessel to enter Aquellum through a concealed underground canal, unveiling a hidden community that “offers an incredible sensory journey.”

Once inside, visitors will be immersed in a 100-meter-high vertical experience with a courtyard space stretching from the water to the sky. The subterranean digitalized community will include hotel accommodations, apartments, retail spaces, leisure and entertainment zones and innovative hubs.

A boulevard winds through the courtyard, connecting social spaces, hospitality, immersive arts, events, shopping and dining. A signature space, dubbed ‘The Generator’, will house research labs for disruptors, innovators, and creative thinkers, “offering a platform where the future is reimagined”, NEOM said.

An omnidirectional internal transit system aims to facilitate easy access to upper floors, transporting residents and visitors to their homes and hotels, ascending to rooftop gardens with coastal views.

NEOM said Aquellum represents a “futuristic ecosystem that is harmoniously integrated into the natural surroundings.”

“With its foundations steeped in cutting-edge technology, avant-garde architecture and forward-thinking concepts, Aquellum will offer guests a taste of futuristic living through its array of pioneering experiences,” it said. “Guided by its unwavering commitment to crafting spaces in nature that epitomize the future of luxury, innovation and lifestyle, Aquellum stands as a testament to the fusion of cutting-edge design and construction techniques.”

The new development follows recent announcements of a myriad of sustainable tourism destinations located in the Gulf of Aqaba.

They include exclusive ‘tourism escape’ Siranna, the new sustainable tourism destination Leyja, which will be home to three boutique hotels led by luxury hospital group Habitas, Epicon, - which will feature residential beach villas, hotels, and a luxurious resort - Utamo, a new destination for art and entertainment which aims to host performances from the globe’s biggest artists, and Norlana, an ultra-modern active lifestyle community.

Meanwhile, work is continuing on NEOM’s flagship regions, including vertical city THE LINE, business hub Oxagon, luxury yachting destination Sindalah and the mountain resort of Trojena, which will all be powered entirely by renewable, clean energy.