Saudi Arabia’s tourism transformation took another visible step forward this week as Rixos Murjana officially opened in King Abdullah Economic City, positioned as the country’s largest ultra all-inclusive resort and a flagship leisure development along the Red Sea corridor.
Enabled by the Tourism Development Fund as financier and investor, and backed by Emaar Economic City alongside project developer FTG, the opening signals the Kingdom’s continued push to convert tourism investment into operational assets aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
The 488-key resort, complemented by 33 villas, extensive leisure facilities, wellness offerings, conference infrastructure, and the region’s longest hotel pools, has been designed as a comprehensive family and lifestyle destination. Beyond its guest offering, the project is expected to generate around 250 Saudi jobs, reinforcing tourism’s role as an economic catalyst.
On this occasion, H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of the Tourism Development Fund, stated, “The opening of Rixos Murjana marks an important milestone in the development of high-quality tourism destinations across Saudi Arabia. It reflects the readiness of major tourism projects to move into full operations and welcome visitors from within the Kingdom and around the world. This project also embodies the role of the Tourism Development Fund in transforming investments into tangible destinations that enhance quality of life, expand tourism choices for families, and contribute to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
Commenting on the opening, Mr. Qusai Al-Fakhri, Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Development Fund, said:
“Rixos Murjana embodies the Fund’s vision to empower the private sector and attract foreign direct investment, and represents a qualitative step in developing exceptional tourism destinations along the King Abdullah Economic City. The project reflects the strength of national and international partnerships in delivering developments that elevate hospitality standards and enrich guest experiences, contributing to enhanced tourism quality and reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global destination for all-inclusive hospitality. Today, we move forward with confidence in developing world-class destinations that reflect the Kingdom’s leadership in the tourism sector.”
Designed with interiors inspired by Hijazi coastal architecture and reinterpreted through a contemporary lens, the resort integrates leisure, wellness, gastronomy, and entertainment into a single all-inclusive ecosystem. From overwater villas and private beach clubs to a full-scale waterpark, sports facilities, and curated dining venues, the property reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambition to build not just hotels, but fully immersive destination experiences.
Commenting on the opening, Fettah Tamince, Chairman of Rixos Hotels, said, “The opening of Rixos Murjana marks a defining milestone for Rixos Hotels in Saudi Arabia and reflects our continued confidence in Saudi vision 2030 for tourism. As the largest all-inclusive destination in the country, Rixos Murjana brings together scale, innovation, and elevated guest experiences from overwater villas and world-class leisure facilities to family-focused entertainment, setting a new benchmark for Ultra all-inclusive hospitality in King Abdullah Economic City.”
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its transition from emerging to established leisure market, projects like Rixos Murjana demonstrate how the Kingdom is increasingly packaging infrastructure, experience design, and international partnerships into a cohesive tourism narrative — one that positions the Red Sea coast as a serious contender in the global resort landscape.
