NEOM Unveils 'Magna' Global Project on Gulf of Aqaba Featuring 12 Luxury Tourism Destinations

Magna is situated on the stunning Gulf of Aqaba coastline. (NEOM)
Magna is situated on the stunning Gulf of Aqaba coastline. (NEOM)
TT
20

NEOM Unveils 'Magna' Global Project on Gulf of Aqaba Featuring 12 Luxury Tourism Destinations

Magna is situated on the stunning Gulf of Aqaba coastline. (NEOM)
Magna is situated on the stunning Gulf of Aqaba coastline. (NEOM)

The Board of Directors of NEOM revealed the development of Magna, its luxury lifestyle coastal destination.

Part of NEOM's regional sustainable tourism portfolio, Magna is situated on the stunning Gulf of Aqaba coastline and comprises the recently announced premier destinations of Leyja, Epicon, Siranna, Utamo, Norlana, Aquellum, Zardun, Xaynor, Elanan, Gidori, Treyam, and Jaumur, said NEOM in a statement on Wednesday.

The twelve destinations will span 120 kilometers and are poised to set a new global standard in luxury sustainable tourism. As the physical embodiment of the ambitious and future-focused Saudi Vision 2030, Magna will be developed with a core focus on cutting-edge technology, world-class architecture, and ultra-modern amenities that seamlessly merge with nature.

Each destination is individually unique, with its own distinct offering for residents and guests, yet they will seamlessly blend to form a unified destination. They will be woven together by the conservation, preservation, and rejuvenation of native flora, fauna, and the breathtaking natural landscape.

The development will boast 15 luxury hotels, 1,600 hotel rooms, suites and apartments, and over 2,500 premium residences across its destinations.

Chief Executive Officer of NEOM Nadhmi Al-Nasr said: “NEOM's premier coastal region of Magna is a treasure of tomorrow, steeped in natural beauty and advanced technology. Aligned with our three pillars of redefining business, conservation, and livability, Magna will play a key role in building a strong tourism ecosystem within NEOM.”

“Importantly, Magna will contribute positively to the national economic diversification efforts and to the broader Saudi Vision 2030 goals, helping to position the Kingdom as a global leader in luxury tourism,” he added.

In line with Vision 2030, Magna and its destinations will stimulate the Kingdom's economy by creating 15,000 jobs across the tourism, leisure, and hospitality sectors. The development is projected to contribute SAR 2.6 billion to the Kingdom's GDP by 2030, accommodate 14,500 residents, and welcome more than 300,000 overnight visitors annually.

Magna presents an unprecedented opportunity for investors and developers to be part of one of the world's most pioneering projects, with sustainability embedded in every stage from design to construction and long-term maintenance.

Magna is NEOM's newest region within the evolving giga-project development in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, following Sindalah, THE LINE, Trojena, and Oxagon.



Saudi Arabia Draws Silicon Valley with $21 Bn Investment Deals

Buildings are seen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser/ File Photo
Buildings are seen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser/ File Photo
TT
20

Saudi Arabia Draws Silicon Valley with $21 Bn Investment Deals

Buildings are seen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser/ File Photo
Buildings are seen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser/ File Photo

Tech and investment heavyweights from Silicon Valley descended on the Saudi capital this week on a historic visit alongside US President Donald Trump, marking a dramatic revival of strategic partnerships that had stalled under previous restrictive US policies.

The visit, seen as a pivot away from Washington’s earlier constraints on exporting artificial intelligence technology, featured some of the most influential figures in the global tech industry.

Among those attending Tuesday’s high-level gathering were Tesla CEO Elon Musk, NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Amazon chief Andy Jassy, BlackRock Chairman Larry Fink, and Palantir CEO Alex Karp.

The visit was hailed by officials as ushering in a “new golden era” of US-Saudi relations. It came just one day after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of HUMAIN, a Saudi AI innovation venture aimed at reshaping the Kingdom’s future through advanced technology.

In just 48 hours, US investment pledges in Saudi Arabia’s AI sector surged from $3 billion to over $21 billion, according to forum organizers.

Also announced was an expanded strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Google Cloud, projected to contribute approximately $70.6 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP in the coming years.

The series of announcements reflect Riyadh’s growing ambition to become a global hub for artificial intelligence, backed by top-tier US tech leadership and capital.

NVIDIA has delivered 18,000 next-generation AI chips to HUMAIN, in a move that could open the floodgates for artificial intelligence semiconductors across the Middle East.

The landmark delivery coincides with a sharp shift in US export policy, as the Trump administration begins dismantling restrictions on semiconductor exports imposed under President Joe Biden.

On Tuesday, the US Commerce Department announced it would scrap Biden’s “AI deployment rule,” which had created three broad tiers of access for countries seeking to acquire AI chips. The rule was due to take effect on Thursday.

The reversal signals a significant policy pivot, potentially expanding access to powerful AI technology for key allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia, which has been aggressively positioning itself as a future hub for artificial intelligence and advanced computing.

Industry analysts say the delivery of NVIDIA’s high-performance chips marks a major step toward establishing a regional AI infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale machine learning, cloud computing, and autonomous systems.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan affirmed that the Kingdom’s strategic partnership with the US in artificial intelligence and hyperscale data centers is expected to generate more than 22,000 high-quality jobs.

Speaking at a press conference, Prince Faisal emphasized that deepening cooperation in advanced technologies will play a key role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s economic future and workforce development.