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 Saudi, 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.”
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
Guided by the Akun team from Red Sea Sport and Entertainment, the group set out on a hike through the landscape. Specialized equipment and clear verbal guidance supported the journey, but it was the environment itself that shaped the experience. The wind, the texture of the ground, and the openness of the space created a sense of orientation and scale.
"Hiking on the dunes was truly something else, almost like stepping into a different world. The breeze felt so clean, time passed quickly. We did not even notice an hour and a half go by, just talking, sharing stories, and taking it all in. It was my first time doing anything like this. The [Akun] team made it so accessible for us that we did not use our canes," said Mansour.
Later that day, guests experienced falconry, a tradition deeply rooted in Saudi culture and delivered in conjunction with Shatha Alqurashi, Mohammed Aljohani, and Sanad Alhamdi from our Social Development team. The sound of wings cutting through the air and the presence of the birds created a powerful connection to the region’s heritage.
Hesitant at first, Noura’s experience with the falcons gradually grew more confident, guided by touch and careful description. “I had always imagined falcons to be much bigger than they really are,” said Noura. “Holding one today, and feeling its feathers and shape, changed that completely. Hearing the instructors describe it helped me form a clear picture in my mind for the first time. It was such a special experience.”
That evening, the desert revealed another dimension. Through Akun’s dark sky experience, guests explored the night using sound, storytelling, and touch. Interactive audio and tactile tools helped translate the vastness of the sky into something personal and immediate.
On the third day, the focus shifted to activity and creativity. Archery brought moments of excitement and achievement, with guests responding to verbal cues to aim and release with remarkable precision.
At Earth Lab, sustainability came to life through touch. Guests transformed recycled paper into handmade booklets, connecting directly with the regenerative philosophy that underpins the destination.
Mansour was pleasantly surprised by his Earth Lab experience, saying: “I really enjoyed the focus on sustainability. I did not know you could make soap from used cooking oil and create such amazing scents. Recycling paper was a first for me, and I would love to try it at home. The team did a great job explaining the process.”
Making Saudi coffee with Abu Marwan, from the neighboring community, became a shared moment of connection and enjoyment. Guided by his voice and cues, our guests took part in every step of the traditional process, preparing the beans, roasting them, and grinding them by hand.
For Mohammed, the experience carried a deeper personal meaning. A coffee enthusiast and founder of his own brand, Four Senses, he spoke about his passion. “I brought some of my own coffee with me,” he said, as he ground the beans. “The Ethiopian one is fruitier, more citrusy, which I like.”
He then asked for the beans to be passed around, inviting the other guests to explore the aroma before preparing coffee for them himself.
Throughout the visit, the Six Senses team played an essential role, ensuring each experience was delivered with care and attention. Their approach reflected a broader commitment to creating hospitality environments that are thoughtful, welcoming, and inclusive.
The visit concluded with a sound healing session at the Six Senses Spa. Sound has a unique ability to create awareness of space and presence. For guests with visual impairments, this type of experience can be especially meaningful, offering another way to connect with their surroundings.
Beyond the individual experiences, what stood out most were the shared moments. Conversations over coffee. Music played together. Stories exchanged. These moments reflect what travel can offer at its best: connection, discovery, and a sense of belonging.
As Saudi Arabia continues to open its doors to the world, improving quality of life and expanding tourism opportunities are central to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Creating destinations that are accessible and inclusive is part of that progress. It is about ensuring more people can experience the country’s landscapes, culture, and hospitality.
“When we began this work two years ago, we saw an opportunity to make the destination more accessible for everyone. One of the first steps was building a community and working directly with guests with disabilities. That is why we launched this initiative, inviting guests with different needs to experience the destination and share their feedback and recommendations. Their insights help us shape experiences that are more inclusive and meaningful.”
This visit was an important step in that journey.
Our guests shared their perspectives openly, helping us continue to refine and strengthen our approach. Their insights will help shape how experiences are delivered across the destination as it grows.
As Mark explained, “The lived experience of disability is different for everyone. We have been fortunate to work with a group of blind guests who have been deeply engaged, helping to raise awareness and shape our understanding throughout the experience. It was rewarding to see the teamwork and friendships develop, not only within the group, but also with the teams delivering the activities. Most importantly, we created meaningful memories and shared experiences together.
“The success of this reflects a collective effort across Red Sea Global, Six Senses, and our external partners. This has been an exciting moment and one we look forward to delivering again in the near future.”
Bringing the experience to life required collaboration across multiple teams and partners. From Destination Development and Social Development to Red Sea Sports and Entertainment and its adventure tourism brand Akun, alongside Six Senses Southern Dunes, and members of the neighboring community, the visit reflected a shared commitment to creating more inclusive and meaningful experiences across our destinations.
As they departed, one thing was clear, The Red Sea, and soon AMAALA, are not defined only by what can be seen, they are defined by what can be felt, heard, and experienced and by who they welcome.
