A new tourist development has been announced for the Gulf of Aqaba, but it looks suspiciously like something out of the Lord of the Rings. As part of its hugely controversial NEOM mega-city project, Saudi Arabia's leaders have unveiled plans for Siranna - a new hexagonal-pillar-shaped hotel, with 65 rooms and 35 private residences. The only way to access the hotel will be via sea.
However, for eagle-eyed Lord of the Rings fans, the building looks a lot like The White City. In the Peter Jackson smash, the walled white fortress towers above the dusty plains below and is built into the face of a mountain — much like Siranna will be. According to NEOM's website: "Siranna is an example of NEOM’s uncompromising efforts to create spaces in nature that support sustainable future living and nurture creativity, while offering the ultimate luxury hospitality experience.
" Do you have a story to tell us? Email us at [email protected] In addition to its quirky design, the hotel will feature a beach club, wellness facilities and a spa. Commenting on the architecture of the building, the website adds: "The towering, rich stone of the hotel is beautifully carved into the mountainside.
The lines will be blurred between whether you're inside the mountain or the building. Siranna will provide the ultimate opportunity to disconnect and unwind." Designed by Woods Bagot, Siranna's surrounding landscape features rugged rocks and nature trails.
While the exact cost of the wildly ambitious ho.
