The Saudi Red Sea has gained a new operating base for international yachts with the opening of AMAALA Yacht Club, bringing a 119-berth marina, members’ clubhouse and sailing academy into service at Triple Bay. The club is now welcoming founding members and visiting yachts, positioning the northern Red Sea as a potential winter alternative for vessels that typically leave the Mediterranean for the Caribbean or Indian Ocean after the European summer season.
The marina sits within AMAALA Marina Village and can accommodate sailing and motor yachts up to 130 metres, according to the club’s current operating information. Dock services include bunkerage, power and water supply, with high-speed fibre connectivity available on request and international entry and exit formalities supported through the marina team.
A Winter Base Between the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean
Red Sea Global is making geography central to the club’s proposition. AMAALA lies roughly 200 nautical miles south of the Suez Canal and around 2,000 nautical miles from Monaco, giving yachts moving out of the Mediterranean a Red Sea stop that is substantially closer than traditional winter bases farther west or east.
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The developer is also promoting the destination’s climate, with average seasonal temperatures around 26°C and average lows near 23°C. This creates a year-round sailing proposition rather than a short peak-season marina, with the Saudi Red Sea acting as both a destination in its own right and a gateway toward the Indian Ocean.
John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global, described the opening as part of the company’s effort to establish the Saudi Red Sea as an international yachting destination that connects luxury hospitality with wellness and regenerative tourism. The centrepiece is a 7,900-square-metre clubhouse designed by HKS Architects, offering several dining and social spaces, including AMAALA Lounge, ANQA, 27°C and The Deck, as well as a rooftop pool, private meeting suites and event areas.
The AYC Academy extends the offer beyond yacht owners, with sailing and watersports programmes for different ages and ability levels. The club’s current programme also includes Coral Cadets, which links youth sailing with marine education and sustainability through collaboration with Corallium, AMAALA’s marine life institute. This education component gives the club a broader role than a conventional luxury marina, combining elite sailing, leisure use and destination tourism with pathways for new sailors and younger participants.
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The Ocean Race Gives AMAALA an Immediate Global Stage
The most visible test of the club’s event ambitions will come in 2027. The Ocean Race has selected AMAALA as the Grand Finale of its next round-the-world edition, the first time the race will finish in the Red Sea. The official AMAALA race schedule places the final Ocean Live Park at the destination from 1 to 5 July 2027, after a route that begins in Alicante and includes Auckland, ItajaÃ, St. Pete-Clearwater and Cascais before the fleet returns through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal.
The club will therefore move quickly from opening into international event hosting. Red Sea Global says additional yachting events will also be staged during the year, using the marina and clubhouse as a base for both competitive sailing and social programming. The opening follows several years of preparation aimed at giving AMAALA international yachting credibility before the first boats arrived.
In 2023, Red Sea Global signed a partnership with Monaco Marina Management to develop the yacht club against the standards associated with La Belle Classe Destinations, the marina quality framework operated by Yacht Club de Monaco. The start of operations now shifts the project from development and positioning into the practical challenge of attracting visiting yachts, permanent berths and international events, with AMAALA Yacht Club set to become a major player in the global yachting scene, and the Saudi Red Sea emerging as a new winter yachting hub.
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For yacht owners and crew, the club’s location within the AMAALA destination creates access to accommodation, restaurants, wellness facilities, watersports and cultural programming within the same destination. AMAALA is also around 45 minutes by road from Al Wajh International Airport, which Red Sea Global upgraded and reopened in 2026, providing easy access to the club and its facilities, including the 119-berth marina and 7,900-square-metre clubhouse.
Establishing a Luxury Yachting Destination
The opening of AMAALA Yacht Club marks a significant milestone in the development of the AMAALA destination, which is rapidly becoming a luxury resort cluster. With several high-end resorts now operational, including Four Seasons Resort and Residences AMAALA, Six Senses AMAALA, and Rosewood AMAALA, the destination is poised to become a major player in the global luxury tourism market. The yacht club’s emphasis on luxury hospitality, wellness, and regenerative tourism aligns with the overall vision for the AMAALA destination, which is designed to provide a unique and unforgettable experience for its visitors.
