Introducing Shushah Island: NEOM’s newest super-luxury beach club haven

Shushah Island is NEOM’s latest super-luxury destination, home to coral reefs, hotels and beach clubs

First mentioned in 2021 as the home to the world’s largest coral garden, NEOM’s proposed Shushah Island could become the region’s next super-luxury island hotspot.

Plans seen by Hotelier Middle East say Shushah Island will house a marina, hotels, villas, a beach club, a museum, and the aforementioned coral garden facilities, including a nursery and research centre. The imagery suggest the museum will be underwater.

Once developed, the island could become a world centre to showcase innovations and efforts to protect and renovate coral reefs and speed up solutions to maintain them amid climate change.

The coral garden is planned to be completed in 2025. The project is a centrepiece of NEOM’s vision for developing “in harmony with nature” and accelerating the transition to a more sustainable relationship between people and planet.

The floating marina will have 43 berths and two aeroplane docks. There will also be a standalone hotel 200 metres high comprising 300 keys; an “upper upscale boutique hotel” of 60 keys; a luxury boutique hotel of 70 keys; village apartments; a floating research centre which goes underwater, too; a museum; villas; and a beach club.

Hotelier Middle East reached out to NEOM for more information on Shushah Island, which would complement the Sindalah Island project.

Shushah Island and regenerative tourism

Once completed, the coral reefscape would provide a research and development (R&D) opportunity for coral preservation and attract international scientists, researchers and eco-conscious travellers.

Additionally, the new coral nurseries will also be the world’s first and largest repository for Red Sea species. NEOM will utilise KAUST’s Maritechture Technologies developed by scientists at the university’s Red Sea Research Centre and Coastal and Marine Resources Core Lab.

The technology will be used in on-shore coral nurseries and then employed to populate the coral gardens surrounding the island. This innovative technology addresses the most challenging aspects of marine restoration and is set to benefit the region for generations to come.

According to NEOM, the project will enable it to be a ‘bold landmark’ of regenerative tourism.