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Saudi Arabia’s Thuwal: Private Island Resort in the Red Sea

Thuwal resort offers absolute privacy and simple luxury (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Thuwal resort offers absolute privacy and simple luxury (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia’s Thuwal: Private Island Resort in the Red Sea

Thuwal resort offers absolute privacy and simple luxury (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Thuwal resort offers absolute privacy and simple luxury (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Thuwal Private Resort has officially opened as the first island of its kind in Saudi Arabia, located off the coast of Jeddah. The resort offers a unique experience of complete privacy and luxury, perfect for escaping the everyday hustle.

The resort is set on a beautiful island in the Red Sea, accessible by a 40-minute private yacht ride from the KAUST marina, north of Jeddah.

The resort allows guests to book the entire island for total privacy and comfort, with only one group staying at a time. Whether for a peaceful family retreat, a luxurious celebration with friends, or an exclusive escape with loved ones, the resort offers a perfect setting. It accommodates up to 12 adults and 3 children.

The main villa includes three spacious bedrooms, a large living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a 395-square-meter garden with a private pool and sunbathing terrace.

The three beachfront suites offer more privacy, each with a bedroom, outdoor terrace, private pool, and beautiful decor that blends with the natural surroundings.

The resort’s dining experience is overseen by a team of top chefs who use fresh, local ingredients to craft menus that cater to all tastes and satisfy every culinary preference. The offerings include Mediterranean-inspired seafood dishes and healthy meal options.

Moreover, the resort offers a variety of activities for all ages and interests. Adventure seekers can enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving to explore coral reefs and shipwrecks, with professional instructors and equipment for beginners.

For relaxation, the spa provides soothing massages and wellness treatments.

Guests can also enjoy beach soccer, volleyball, island walks, or unwind in the library, which has books and games.

The resort features an outdoor cinema where guests can watch movies under the stars, with snacks and refreshing drinks adding to the experience.

Additionally, the resort offers cultural programs inspired by Saudi heritage, including folk music, traditional performances, and crafts, enriching the overall stay.

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Alligator that Appeared in Films Dies of Old Age in Colorado

This photo provided by Colorado Gators shows Matt Jordan, employee at Colorado Gators, as he pulls the tail of Morris the alligator, in Mosca, Colo., June 9, 2024. (Jay Young/Colorado Gators via AP)
This photo provided by Colorado Gators shows Matt Jordan, employee at Colorado Gators, as he pulls the tail of Morris the alligator, in Mosca, Colo., June 9, 2024. (Jay Young/Colorado Gators via AP)
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Alligator that Appeared in Films Dies of Old Age in Colorado

This photo provided by Colorado Gators shows Matt Jordan, employee at Colorado Gators, as he pulls the tail of Morris the alligator, in Mosca, Colo., June 9, 2024. (Jay Young/Colorado Gators via AP)
This photo provided by Colorado Gators shows Matt Jordan, employee at Colorado Gators, as he pulls the tail of Morris the alligator, in Mosca, Colo., June 9, 2024. (Jay Young/Colorado Gators via AP)

An alligator that appeared in numerous TV shows and films over three decades, most notably the 1996 Adam Sandler comedy “Happy Gilmore,” has died at a gator farm in southern Colorado.

Based on his growth rate and tooth loss, Morris the alligator was at least 80 years old when he died, the Colorado Gator Farm said in a Facebook post Sunday. He was nearly 11 feet (3.3 meters) long and weighed 640 pounds (290 kilograms), The Associated Press reported.

"He started acting strange about a week ago. He wasn’t lunging at us and wasn’t taking food,” Jay Young, the farm’s owner and operator, said in a video as he tearfully stroked Morris' head in an animal enclosure.

“I know it's strange to people that we get so attached to an alligator, to all of our animals. ... He had a happy time here, and he died of old age," he said.

Morris, who was found in the backyard of a Los Angeles home as an illegal pet, started his Hollywood career in 1975 and retired in 2006, when he was sent to the Colorado Gator Farm in the tiny town of Mosca. He appeared in several films, including “Interview with the Vampire,” “Dr. Dolittle 2" and “Blues Brothers 2000." He also appeared on “Coach,” “Night Court” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” featuring the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin.

But his most famous role was in “Happy Gilmore,” a film about a failed and ill-tempered hockey player who discovers a talent for golf. The title character played by Sandler confronts Morris after hitting a golf ball that ends up in the gator's mouth.

Sandler posted a tribute to Morris on Instagram on Wednesday.

“We are all gonna miss you. You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers — really anyone with arms or legs — but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film," Sandler wrote. "The day you wouldn’t come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art.”

The Colorado Gator Farm, which opened to the public in 1990, said it plans to preserve Morris' body.

“We have decided to get Morris taxidermied so that he can continue to scare children for years to come. It’s what he would have wanted," the farm posted on Facebook on Monday.