AROYA welcomes first passengers to new private island destination in Red Sea

AROYA Cruises has welcomed the first passengers to its new Saba Beach island destination in the Red Sea, during the maiden passenger voyage of its first cruise ship Aroya.

Owned by Cruise Saudi, a Public Investment Fund portfolio company responsible for the creation and development of Saudi’s cruise sector, AROYA Cruises is the first homegrown cruise brand in the Arab world.

Its Saba Beach destination is located on Jabal AlSabaya, Cruise Saudi’s newly developed private island for cruising in the heart of the Red Sea.

The soft launch of Saba Beach marks a significant milestone for Cruise Saudi, and the development of the private island is a natural progression in Cruise Saudi’s mission to position Saudi as a prominent destination for cruising.

Just 220 nautical miles from Jeddah, the Kingdom’s primary cruise port, Jabal AlSabaya can be reached by cruise ships overnight and will be exclusively accessible to all cruise line passengers.

According to Aroya, the destination offers a Red Sea experience that combines luxury, local culture, and the natural beauty of Saudi Arabia’s coastline.

Upon completion of the first phase, facilities will include a floating park, full-service restaurant, retail shops, as well as a VIP beach and beachfront villas.

Visitors can also treat themselves to a spa experience, a shisha lounge, and a range of land and water activities that cater to all kinds of passenger.

The island’s development has been influenced by the Aseer and Hijaz regions, with coastal Roshan designs, and patterns inspired by Sadu and AlKhous. Development began in 2024, with sustainability underscoring the work.

Construction was undertaken with minimal impact, using local materials and craftsmanship along with off-site prefabrication, whilst measures were put in place to protect the island’s surrounding environment.

“Since the inception of Cruise Saudi, our vision has been to create unique and exceptional cruise experiences for passengers from around the world,” said Lars Clasen, CEO of Cruise Saudi, which owns AROYA Cruises.

“The launch of Saba Beach represents not only a world-class destination, but also our commitment to enhancing Saudi’s tourism industry,” he added. “We are opening up a truly unique area of the region and look forward to welcoming cruise passengers from around the world.”

Barbara Buczek, Chief Destination Experiences Officer of Cruise Saudi, said the launch of Saba Beach was all about “bringing a previously unseen Saudi to the local, regional and international markets.”