Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), and Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman, oversees the signing of a deal to develop a desert resort in Al-Ula.

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) has signed a contract with a national tourist company to develop Athlib desert resort in the Al-Ula region in Madinah.

The signing ceremony, which took place on Thursday, was sponsored by Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the SCTNH, and Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman, who also heads the region’s Tourism Development Council.

The contract was signed by Hamad Ismail, deputy president of investment services at the SCTNH, and Mazin Mutabaqni, who heads the national company. Several officials from Al-Ula and the SCTNH were also present.

Prince Sultan and Prince Faisal were later briefed on the designs and project details after the ceremony. The resort, near Athlib Mountain in Al-Ula, is considered a key regional tourist project. The SCTNH previously signed a deal to develop the Samhan heritage hotel in Diriyah, Riyadh.

The deal provides the developer an investment opportunity for 45 years. The project covers 50,000 square meters and is 22 km from Al-Ula town and 53 km from the airport.

The resort will include 50 villas for families, and a two-story building containing 60 rooms for groups and individuals. The project will be completed in the next three years. There is a plan to have 530 hospitality rooms in the region in the next five years.

The project is part of several development initiatives, including hotels and heritage projects in Al-Ula jointly overseen by the SCTNH, Madinah governorate and the Al-Ula region.

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