There is a kind of silence that exists only on the edge of the Red Sea—a quiet that isn’t just the absence of noise. It is the presence of something vast, sacred and ancient.
Last week, as I stood on the shore of KAEC, only an hour’s drive from the historic Al Jaddah, I felt that silence give way to a vibrant rhythm.
I witnessed the physical manifestation of a nation’s transformation.
That’s weird. Nothing reminds you of politics inside, of course, unless you are a journalist who can’t stop thinking about such things.
Yet, if you spent time thinking about Saudi Arabia before, this place reminds you of many things.
Rixos Murjana has officially arrived, and it is less of a resort and more of a thriving, self-contained city.
It is quite close to the two most sacred Muslim cities, Mecca and Medina, which have been giving blessings and peace to billions of Muslims worldwide.As the kingdom’s largest ultra-all-inclusive destination, it carries the weight of many “firsts,” but its true triumph isn’t its scale—it’s how it manages to make a massive 275,000-square-meter footprint feel like a personal invitation into Saudi Arabia’s future.
View from my hotel room. (Photo credit: Türkiye Today)
Micro-cosmos of global flavors
One of the most striking aspects of my stay was the social architecture of the place.
Large resorts can often feel isolating, but Murjana is designed to socialize you. As you are eating ice cream at a restaurant, a magician can sit next to you and suddenly approach to offer some tricks.
Walking through the grounds feels like navigating a cosmopolitan neighborhood where every turn leads to a different culture.
The culinary scene is the beating heart of this “city.”
I spent my days drifting between worlds: Terra Mare, the all-day hub where Turkish-Saudi hospitality meets global variety, and Godiva Cafe, my personal favorite for an afternoon pause, where Belgian chocolate and live piano music set a sophisticated vibe.
Piazzetta Italiana and People’s Restaurant are also waiting for you, with the staff eager to showcase the quality of their products.There is a unique energy when you sit at Solara Beach Club as the sun dips below the horizon.
You aren’t just a tourist. You are part of a new social fabric being woven in real-time. More
