Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb officially inaugurated the Rixos Murjana Resort at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) on February 16, 2026, marking the launch of the Kingdom’s largest all-inclusive resort. The project, a collaboration between the Tourism Development Fund (TDF), Emaar the Economic City, and FTG Development Co., represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to expand its high-quality tourism infrastructure and diversify its economy under the Vision 2030 framework. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior officials including TDF CEO Qusai bin Abdullah Al-Fakhri and Rixos Hotels Chairman Fettah Tamince.
Context and Background
The opening of the Rixos Murjana Resort is a direct outcome of strategic investments guided by Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which identifies tourism as a key pillar for economic diversification. The Tourism Development Fund (TDF), established as the national enabler for the sector, played a pivotal role as both an investor and financier for this project. This development is situated within the master-planned King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), a flagship megaproject on the Red Sea coast designed to be a global logistics and industrial hub, now expanding its offerings to include world-class leisure and hospitality. The resort’s launch signals the maturation of KAEC as a multi-faceted destination capable of attracting both international visitors and domestic tourists.
Key Details of the Resort
The Rixos Murjana Resort is designed as a comprehensive family destination, featuring 488 rooms and suites with sea views, complemented by 33 private villas. A central attraction is “Murjana Waterpark,” noted as the first fully integrated hotel water park in Saudi Arabia, offering 11 distinct water attractions. The resort’s amenities extend to a fully equipped fitness center, a dedicated sports complex, and modern meeting and conference facilities, positioning it as a venue for both leisure and business travel. Importantly, the project is set to create approximately 250 employment opportunities for Saudi nationals, contributing directly to the nationalization goals of the labor market under Vision 2030.
Implications and Strategic Impact
The operational launch of this resort demonstrates the effective translation of tourism investment into tangible, world-class infrastructure. Minister Al-Khateeb emphasized that the project reflects the readiness of Saudi tourism developments to enter the operational phase and welcome a growing influx of domestic and international visitors. By offering an integrated, all-inclusive experience, the resort directly enhances the quality and variety of tourism products available in the Kingdom, making it more competitive within the global tourism market. This development also strengthens the economic ecosystem of KAEC, attracting further investment and supporting the city’s long-term growth as a premier Red Sea destination.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The inauguration of the Rixos Murjana Resort is a concrete manifestation of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives in action. It underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to building a vibrant society with improved quality of life through expanded recreational and tourism options for families. Financially, it exemplifies the successful partnership model between government funds like the TDF and private sector developers, accelerating the growth of a sustainable and investable tourism sector. This project not only contributes to economic diversification and job creation but also elevates Saudi Arabia’s profile as an emerging global tourism destination, paving the way for future developments that will further realize the ambitious goals of Vision 2030.
20 Questions and Answers
Q1: Who inaugurated the Rixos Murjana Resort?
A1: The resort was inaugurated by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) Board, Ahmed Al-Khateeb. The ceremony took place on February 16, 2026.
Q2: Where is the Rixos Murjana Resort located?
A2: The resort is located within King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), a major economic and urban development on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
Q3: What makes this resort significant in Saudi Arabia?
A3: The Rixos Murjana Resort is noted as the largest all-inclusive resort in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, representing a major addition to its tourism infrastructure.
Q4: Which organizations were involved in developing the resort?
A4: The project was developed through a partnership between the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) as investor and financier, Emaar, the Economic City (EEC) as master developer and investor, and FTG Development Co. as the project developer.
Q5: What is the Tourism Development Fund’s (TDF) role?
A5: The TDF is described as the national enabler of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector. For this project, it acted as both an investor and a financier to bring the development to fruition.
Q6: Who attended the inauguration ceremony?
A6: Attendees included Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, TDF CEO Qusai bin Abdullah Al-Fakhri, and Rixos Hotels Chairman Fettah Tamince.
Q7: How many rooms and suites does the resort have?
A7: The Rixos Murjana Resort features 488 rooms and suites, all offering diverse sea views.
Q8: Does the resort include private villas?
A8: Yes, in addition to the rooms and suites, the resort includes 33 private villas for guests.
Q9: What is the “Murjana Waterpark”?
A9: Murjana Waterpark is a key feature of the resort, noted as the first fully integrated hotel water park in Saudi Arabia. It contains 11 diverse water attractions.
Q10: What other facilities are available at the resort?
A10: The resort offers a fully equipped fitness center, a sports complex, and meeting and conference facilities, catering to both leisure and business travelers.
Q11: How many jobs will the project create?
A11: The resort project is expected to create 250 jobs for Saudi nationals, contributing to local employment.
Q12: What did Minister Al-Khateeb say the inauguration represents?
A12: The Minister stated that the inauguration represents an important step in developing distinctive tourism destinations in the Kingdom and reflects the readiness of tourism projects to become operational.
Q13: How does the project relate to Saudi Vision 2030?
A13: According to the Minister, the project embodies the TDF’s role in transforming investments into destinations that improve quality of life, expand tourism options, and support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Q14: Who is the master developer of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)?
A14: Emaar, the Economic City (EEC) is the master developer of KAEC, where the resort is located.
Q15: What type of destination is the resort designed to be?
A15: The resort was designed as an ideal destination for families and those seeking integrated leisure experiences.
Q16: Who is the target audience for the resort?
A16: The resort is designed to welcome visitors from both within Saudi Arabia and from outside the Kingdom.
Q17: What is the broader significance of launching such a resort in KAEC?
A17: It enhances KAEC’s profile as a multi-purpose destination, combining its industrial and logistical base with world-class tourism and hospitality offerings to attract a wider range of visitors and investors.
Q18: How does the project demonstrate the TDF’s function?
A18: The project demonstrates the TDF’s function of acting as a strategic enabler by partnering with private entities to finance and invest in large-scale tourism infrastructure that aligns with national goals.
Q19: What strategic economic shift does this resort support?
A19: The resort supports Saudi Arabia’s strategic shift towards economic diversification by growing the tourism and hospitality sector as a non-oil revenue source.
Q20: What is the forward-looking impact of this inauguration?
A20: The successful inauguration sets a precedent for future tourism projects, signaling to international investors that Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is open for business and capable of delivering high-quality, operational destinations at scale.