Developer Red Sea Global (RSG) and DarkSky International have partnered to create certification recognising resorts that protect natural night skies through responsible outdoor lighting, benefiting wildlife, while creating exceptional stargazing experiences.
The certification is said to be the world’s first and RSG said that Desert Rock and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, at The Red Sea have become the first resorts in the world to earn the certification under the new DarkSky Approved Lodging & Resort program.
Responsible outdoor lighting is a cornerstone of regenerative development. By minimising artificial light at night, DarkSky principles reduce energy consumption, preserve natural night skies, and protect biodiversity by maintaining the natural light-dark cycle that wildlife depends on, RSG said in a statement.
This is particularly important for nocturnal and light-sensitive species, including sea turtle hatchlings, which use the natural brightness of the night sky over the sea to orient themselves toward the ocean. These principles also create exceptional opportunities for stargazing and immersive astrotourism experiences, it added.
“Red Sea Global is integrating responsible lighting into every stage of development to protect the ecological integrity of the night environment. Through our collaboration with DarkSky International, RSG is setting a new benchmark for regenerative tourism, demonstrating that preserving natural darkness not only safeguards biodiversity and ecological processes but also enriches the guest experience through world-class and authentic connections with nature,” said Raed Albasset, Group Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer, Red Sea Global.
The new certification is said to build on the DarkSky Approved Lodging program, which was launched by DarkSky International in 2023.
During the review of RSG’s nominated resorts for the original program, DarkSky International recognised that its existing standards did not fully address the operational needs of resort destinations. While outdoor lighting at most lodging properties is limited, resorts typically require more extensive lighting. The organisation invited RSG to co-develop dedicated resort guidelines, establishing a consistent framework and best practices for certification, it added.
As demand for astrotourism experiences continues to grow worldwide, the DarkSky Approved Lodging & Resort program helps travelers identify destinations that offer exceptional night skies, while meeting rigorous environmental standards. Both the Lodging and Resort certifications require exceptional dark skies, considerate outdoor lighting, and a rigorous review by DarkSky’s lighting team, the statement explained.
Ruskin Hartley, CEO & Executive Director, DarkSky International added, “Red Sea Global’s commitment to sustainable, DarkSky-friendly design created an opportunity to evolve our Lodging program. Together, we developed resort-specific lighting best practices that recognise the unique needs of larger hospitality destinations, while upholding DarkSky’s rigorous standards for protecting the night.”
RSG said it now has 15 resorts open across 3-destinations and will continue expanding DarkSky compliance across its portfolio, supporting additional resorts in achieving certification as new properties open.
