Rixos Murjana Opens in Saudi Arabia with 488 Rooms, Villas and First Integrated Hotel Waterpark

Rixos Murjana opened in February 2026 in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), marking the debut of what its backers describe as Saudi Arabia's largest ultra all-inclusive resort. The project was financed and invested by the Tourism Development Fund, developed by FTG company, and built within the master-planned city overseen by Emaar Economic City.

The opening ceremony took place under the patronage of Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Development Fund's board, with Qusai Al-Fakhri, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund, and Fettah Tamince, Chairman of Rixos Hotels, also in attendance.

Scale and accommodation

The resort comprises 488 rooms and suites — many with sea views — alongside 33 villas. The premium Club Privé by Rixos tier offers butler services, overwater villas, and access to a private Club House and Beach Club, targeting the high-spending segment that has become central to Saudi Arabia's tourism diversification strategy.

Facilities

Leisure infrastructure includes the Murjana Waterpark, described as the first fully integrated hotel waterpark in Saudi Arabia, featuring 11 water attractions — among them Emerald Drop, a Wave Pool Lagoon, and the Murjana River Adventure pool. A swimming pool measuring 111 metres in length and the Solara Beach Club anchor the outdoor offer.

The Anjana Spa provides 12 treatment rooms, steam and sauna facilities, and couples' suites. The Exclusive Sports Club covers CrossFit, yoga, and TRX classes alongside dedicated gyms. Family programming is handled by the Rixy Kids Club and a Teens Club, both offering supervised activities and workshops.

Six dining venues operate on-property: Terra Mare, Alâ Aksam steakhouse, Piazzetta Italiana, MykOrini, People's Restaurant, and Godiva Café, with family dining also available at Seafarer's Catch within the waterpark.

Meeting and conference spaces complete the MICE offer, positioning the resort for group and corporate business alongside leisure.

Employment

The resort is expected to generate 250 jobs for Saudi nationals, aligning with the kingdom's Saudisation targets within the hospitality sector.

Why it matters

For tour operators and bedbanks, Rixos Murjana adds a substantial all-inclusive inventory node on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast at a time when international demand for the destination is still being cultivated. The ultra all-inclusive model — proven by Rixos across Türkiye and the UAE — simplifies packaging for source markets unfamiliar with Saudi Arabia, potentially lowering the barrier to first-time bookings. The involvement of the Tourism Development Fund as both financier and investor signals that the state remains willing to underwrite flagship hospitality assets to accelerate supply growth, a dynamic that hotel investors and developers tracking the region should weigh when assessing risk and partnership structures. The waterpark's "first fully integrated hotel waterpark in Saudi Arabia" positioning also differentiates the property in a competitive Gulf all-inclusive landscape, giving distribution partners a clear selling point for families. With KAEC positioned as a master-planned economic and tourism hub, the resort's opening may catalyse further operator interest in the city's still-developing hospitality pipeline.