Inspired by the words ‘adrenaline’, ‘arena’, and ‘dream’, Adrena embodies the spirit of excitement, movement, and imagination.
Storyland Studios was engaged to help turn this bold idea into a fully realised resort experience - crafting everything from the narrative foundation to the technical landscape and the refinement and development of Red Sea’s initial attraction designs.
A holistic approach
Adrena is situated on a 17-hectare stretch of shallow coastal flats in a beautiful part of the Red Sea; a location that demanded careful planning, technical coordination, and a deep understanding of the surrounding ecosystem.
The goal was ambitious: to create an explorative, story-driven resort that blends seamlessly with the natural environment while enhancing the guest experience.
Red Sea Global appointed Storyland to deliver a comprehensive and integrated scope of work, including master planning, landscape design, water features, pools, hardscape, and all specialist attraction components from concept design through IFC - covering show elements, theming, and props.
Beyond Storyland’s talent for crafting an authentic narrative that resonated with both the project's ambitions and the landscape's character, its multi-disciplinary team also possessed the technical skill to complete this project on schedule, within a challenging 16-month timeframe, and to a high standard.
This holistic approach allowed Storyland to shape both the environment and the experiential layer, ensuring that every design decision was rooted in story.
Creating a narrative
Building on the initial concepts, Storyland collaborated with Red Sea Global to craft a compelling narrative: What makes this unique? What attracts guests? And how does it distinguish itself from other global entertainment and adventure destinations?
The idea of Adrena emerged as a sanctuary - a place shaped by the interplay of sea, earth, and air. It is a protected realm of renewal and reconnection that offers transformation: “At a super-natural meeting of sea, earth, and air, global denizens discover endless re-creation, renewal, and transformation of mind, body and spirit.”
The resort invites guests to enter a safeguarded and enriched ecosystem with three unique realms:
- Mind - The Call to Curiosity; the Quest for Discovery: SEAdventure invites children of all ages to discover the secrets below, on, and above the Red Sea while testing their limits and training to become the guardians of Sea, Earth, and Air.
- Body - The Call to Action; the Quest for Adrenaline: XCoast invites everyone to step outside their comfort zones and join global surfers, skaters, riders, artists, musicians, and culture creators where the sands meet the Red Sea.
- Spirit - The Call to Connection; the Quest for Calm: Red Sea Beach Club rekindles the bond between man and nature. Here, visitors reconnect with the natural flow of the environment and discover a renewed sense of self within it.
A variety of attractions
Anchored by Saudi Arabia’s largest wave pool, the destination offers a diverse range of dry and water-based attractions, from rope courses and ziplines to deep-sea diving, cliff jumping, and curated snorkel trails.
Storyland designed these experiences from concept through to completion, creating a rich collection of alternative activities that complement and extend the wave-pool offering.
“The deep sea diving and snorkel trail becomes an interconnected journey that takes guests on a mesmerising underwater journey through The Shallows, The Reef, and The Deep," says Johnny Davis, senior creative director at Storyland Studios.
"This is a manmade ecosystem, but it’s been designed to reflect the natural wonders of the Red Sea - each zone was meticulously designed to captivate, educate and prepare guests for the incredible beauty and mystery of the Red Sea itself, and to offer almost an introduction to marine exploration.
"Through meticulous attention to detail, we introduce guests to the wonders of the Red Sea, offering an unforgettable experience.”
See also: Red Sea Global: inspired by nature, led by science
Guest experience is key
For Storyland’s landscape architecture team, the guest experience was the cornerstone of the project. Two guiding questions shaped the process: Will people want to be here? And will they want to return?
Great places are created with intention, empathy, and a deep understanding of what makes people feel connected to a space. For Storyland, this means every design choice must relate back to the story and the journey they want the guest to have - emotionally, visually, and experientially.
Rob Moffat, principal director for area development and landscape architecture at Storyland Studios, says: “This has been one of the most exciting projects we have ever delivered.
"We are honored to have been part of this journey with Red Sea Global, collaborating alongside world-class designers and engineers to help shape such an iconic destination. Future guests will experience the dedication, passion, and creativity that the team brought to life."
Storyland created a unified design language that emphasises the resort’s core story of Mind, Body, and Spirit, inspired by coral formations, marine ecosystems, natural materials, and cultural heritage.
The team crafted a design scheme that reflects the purpose of each space - from the curated landscapes of ‘Mind’ activities to the elemental feel of the ‘Body’ areas, and the intricate details in zones focusing on ‘Spirit’.
This design language appeared across landscape features, attraction design, theming, and carefully detailed moments that invite exploration. However, creating an immersive experience requires more than creative vision; it demands technical precision.
The team had to understand how each choice, including planting, materials, grading, lighting, and sightlines, affected both the visible experience and the underlying systems that make it work.
Creative vision meets technical skill
Storyland translated the initial 2D concept into a detailed, coordinated business information management (BIM) model, delivering 100% of the area development and utilities package in Revit. The team modelled all area development elements in 3D, including landscape, water features, seawater processing systems, and underground utilities.
The BIM model became the central coordination tool throughout concept, schematic design, design development, and construction documents, supporting design intent, resolving complex interfaces, and enabling efficient decision-making.
This model served multiple contractors on the project; it served as the guide that helped keep the project progressing smoothly through various design phases.
“By developing the project in BIM, we could see the entire experience come to life before it was built," says Jeff Damron, SVP of architecture and master planning at Storyland Studios.
"That visibility helped us refine the guest journey, find meaningful efficiencies, explore sustainable solutions, and collaborate seamlessly with every contractor involved.”
Storyland’s capacity to balance creative vision and technical skill allowed high-quality work to be delivered swiftly within an ambitious timeframe.
Sustainability
Sustainability was a key priority for Red Sea Global and an essential part of Storyland’s approach. Collaborating closely with project partners, the firm integrated environmentally intelligent strategies throughout the destination.
- Dark-sky compliant lighting that preserves natural night skies and protects migratory patterns
- Wildlife-sensitive illumination to minimise ecological disturbance
- Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater solutions that manage water sustainably and reduce surface runoff
- Water conservation and reuse studies to support long-term resource stewardship
- Opportunities for renewable energy integration that reduce reliance on traditional power sources
Mel McGowan, founder and chief creative officer at Storyland Studios, says:
“It’s been a privilege to help bring the dream of Adrena to life. Adrena is truly a new paradigm of destination, offering a wholly original variety of active and passive offerings.
"We were inspired by the singular setting where the Arabian sands encounter the Red Sea to facilitate connections between people, land, air & sea. The result is an environment that doesn’t just welcome guests, but immerses them in an energising, captivating experience.”
Elsewhere, the Storyland team is working with stand-up comedian and entertainer Nate Bargatze to explore the creation of a Nashville-based theme park.
