Red Sea Global (RSG) is the developer behind The Red Sea and AMAALA, two major tourism projects in Saudi Arabia being built with a focus on responsible and mindful tourism. Since announcing its accessibility commitment in 2023, RSG has been working to incorporate inclusive design across the guest experience, from transportation and accommodations to activities, experiences, and excursions.
In a recent experience, Red Sea Global welcomed five travelers who are blind or have visual impairments to The Red Sea for a destination visit focused on exploring how the environment can be experienced beyond sight. Through sensory tours, guided experiences, storytelling, cultural activities, and personal connections, the team brought the destination to life in new ways while gathering valuable feedback directly from travelers.
Watch the video below and read the full article for an in-depth look at how Red Sea Global is creating more inclusive experiences and welcoming blind travelers to explore the destination in new ways.
Experiencing The Red Sea Beyond Sight | Red Sea Global
The first impression of a destination is not always visual. For Noura and her niece Sadeem, it began with a description.
Inside the welcome center at Red Sea International Airport hangs a large spiral sculpture. It shifts constantly, its colors changing in response to wind and ocean data. A member of Red Sea International Airport’s welcome team described its movement, its scale, and its connection to the surrounding environment, painting a vivid picture through words.
This moment set the tone for all that followed.
Red Sea Global recently welcomed five guests with visual impairments, most of them blind, to The Red Sea destination for a four-day visit shaped around experience, exploration, and connection. Abdulaziz, Raneem, Noura, Mohammed, and Mansour arrived with their companions and joined us at Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea. Two of the guests joined through our ongoing collaboration with Team Saudio, reflecting a broader effort to help shape more inclusive tourism and sporting experiences across our destinations.
Their visit formed part of our ongoing commitment to ensure our accessibility offering is as comprehensive and meaningful as possible, reflecting our belief that travel should be inclusive of everyone.
This commitment has been part of our approach from the beginning. Accessibility has not been treated as an after-thought, but as a design principle that influences the full guest journey, from arrival and transportation to experiences, public spaces, and the natural environment itself.
“Accessibility isn’t just about the facilities. It’s about being able to experience the destination in the same way as everyone else. We are committed to creating memories and experiences for people with disabilities that are equitable and inclusive across our resorts. For these particular activities we wanted to explore how senses other than sight can enhance and enrich an experience. The most important thing is looking at the whole journey – from arrival to the beach, to restaurants, to activities. Every part of that experience needs to work.”
Mark Dyer, Associate Director for Accessibility, Destination Development at Red Sea Global.
Six Senses Southern Dunes, nestled among desert landscapes, was designed to connect guests to nature, culture, and wellbeing. From the moment of arrival, the focus was on creating an environment where guests could move comfortably and confidently through each space.
After settling in, the group gathered at the resort’s cookery school for a hands-on culinary experience led by Saudi chef Afnan Alhawsawi. With Ramadan approaching, the menu reflected familiar traditions. The sounds of preparation filled the space as ingredients were chopped, folded, and shaped.
For Abdulaziz, Mansour, and Mohammed, the evening took an unexpected turn. All three are skilled musicians, with Mansour making it his profession, and as dinner unfolded at Al Sarab Restaurant, they found their way to the instruments. Mansour at the piano, Mohammed at the keyboard, and Abdulaziz singing. Their performance moved effortlessly between Arabic and Western classics, culminating in a powerful rendition of Fly Me To The Moon.
The following morning, the desert became the setting.
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