RIYADH: Prior to Sindalah’s expected opening in 2024, the Saudi dream island is set to transform into a global yachting destination following the signing of an agreement with a leading luxury yacht provider. NEOM, the $500 billion giga-project in the Kingdom, announced a collaboration with Burgess to provide a comprehensive range of services to the yachting clientele of Sindalah. Situated along the coast of NEOM in northwest Saudi Arabia, Sindalah is set to be the inaugural asset of the giga-project presenting guests with an idyllic and luxurious lifestyle. In a statement, the flagship of Saudi Vision 2030 said that as part of the agreement, Burgess will provide a broad range of luxury services to elevate Sindalah’s global yachting offering. It added that services will include yacht management, charter and charter management, sales and purchase as well as yacht insurance, new build and refit projects, yacht marketing and procurement. Commenting on the partnership, Antoni Vives, chief urban development, and islands officer at NEOM, said they are committed to becoming a distinctive yachting destination, and deliver world-class services to guests and yachts visiting the Red Sea. “We recognize chartering as a critical aspect of the yachting experience. Many of our guests visiting Sindalah will be looking forward to experiencing a nautical lifestyle through chartering a yacht. Also, yacht owners and managers will be happy to offer their prized possessions for chartering in the Red Sea,” he explained. Vives added that their partnership with Burgess will help them to ensure that this critical activity is enabled at Sindalah from the time of launch. The statement further added that the demand for superyacht services in the region has grown exponentially over the past decade, triggering the decision for Burgess to establish its presence in the Middle East. “The company is now perfectly positioned to provide Sindalah guests with the very best in class when it comes to all their yachting needs. From arranging bespoke superyacht charters to managing the logistics of chartering your yacht out in the Red Sea, Burgess has the expertise to ensure a smooth experience for all involved,” the statement explained. For his part, Jonathan Hind, managing director, Burgess Middle East, said they are excited to be part of the new development at NEOM. He added: “Sindalah will offer superyacht clientele everything they want and need for a fantastic experience, and we will be on hand to make this happen.” It is noteworthy that the Sindalah’s location has made it a key stopping point for many regional and European boat and yacht owners. The island resort is in close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, giving easy access to many yachting destinations in under a day through the Suez Canal.