Top Saudi Projects – First Week of July 2025

From the shores of Jeddah to the rocky heart of the Red Sea desert, Saudi Arabia witnessed a wave of architectural activity this week. Whether it’s a private beach for women, mysterious developments on a strategic island, or the opening of a resort carved into a mountain—each project reflects a new way of connecting people with place.

OIA Downtown: Jeddah’s First Women-Only Beach Nears Completion

“OIA Downtown” is just steps away from its official opening, as major construction has wrapped up and final preparations are now underway. Located on Al Nawras Island along Jeddah’s waterfront, the project is the first of its kind to offer a fully private seaside experience for women.

White façades with minimalist architectural design at Oia Downtown in NEOM — Oia Downtown embodies privacy and simplicity at the heart of NEOM

Designed as an upscale, intimate destination, the development includes restaurants, fitness lounges, outdoor seating areas, and cultural spaces. The project is a collaboration between Tarfeeh Fakieh and Blue Limits Group, with an investment exceeding 40 million SAR.

The architecture embraces its coastal setting with soft white façades, wooden textures, and infinity pools stretching out toward the sea.

Construction Activity on Tiran Island Captured by Satellite

Satellite imagery has recently revealed visible development activity on Tiran Island, situated off the western coast of Saudi Arabia. A series of modular buildings, aligned in neat rows with matching rooftops, hint at a rapid and coordinated construction effort.

Aerial satellite view of Tiran Island showing unannounced shoreline development — Controversial construction activity spotted on Tiran Island via satellite imagery

Although official details remain scarce, the infrastructure and layout suggest early stages of a strategic transformation—potentially aimed at tourism, conservation, or a hybrid of both.

Desert Rock Resort Opens in the Heart of The Red Sea Mountains

Adding to the momentum, The Red Sea Global has officially launched its much-anticipated Desert Rock Resort—a hotel uniquely embedded into the region’s natural rock formations.

With rooms tucked between rugged cliffs and pathways subtly lit to enhance rather than overpower the landscape, the resort redefines luxury by embracing its natural context.

Resort embedded within red rock formations at Desert Rock project in AlUla — Desert Rock blends natural formations with contemporary design in AlUla

Desert Rock is one of 16 resorts scheduled to open by the end of 2025 as part of the kingdom’s vision to create eco-luxury tourism experiences in harmony with nature.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

This weekly roundup captures three distinct moments in Saudi Arabia’s evolving coastal narrative. The refined minimalism of OIA Downtown echoes exclusivity and leisure, while Tiran Island’s satellite-detected activity suggests a transformation shrouded in silence. Desert Rock, meanwhile, emerges as a tactile fusion of architecture and topography. Yet, the projects raise questions about long-term contextual integration—how do these destinations move beyond spectacle toward socio-environmental relevance? While each site shows promise, critical engagement with local culture and ecological frameworks remains underexplored. Still, the scale and diversity of these interventions reflect Saudi Arabia’s growing architectural ambition within Vision 2030.

Explore the Latest Architecture Exhibitions & Conferences

ArchUp offers daily updates on top global architectural exhibitions, design conferences, and professional art and design forums.
Follow key architecture competitions, check official results, and stay informed through the latest architectural news worldwide.
ArchUp is your encyclopedic hub for discovering events and design-driven opportunities across the globe.