Sands Breaks Ground on New Ultra-Luxury Development in Singapore

Sands marked a momentous milestone earlier today with the groundbreaking of its new $8 billion ultra-luxurious resort and entertainment destination in Singapore, which will expand its regional footprint and strengthen its commitment to the Republic’s future.

The occasion was officiated by Singapore’s Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu, Sands co-founder Dr. Miriam Adelson, Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Goldstein, and Sands President and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Dumont.

“With its opening in 2010, our founder Sheldon G. Adelson embarked on a journey in Singapore with Marina Bay Sands and the people of Singapore that promised to change the face of tourism in the region,” Goldstein said. “Fifteen years later, we have delivered on these ambitions and more. Marina Bay Sands is the world’s most successful integrated resort in history, and the gold standard in the industry. It has been truly incredible to witness Mr. Adelson’s vision come to life, and we are proud to carry his legacy forward with today’s groundbreaking ceremony for our new development here. We have every intention of delivering a product that will be the envy of the hospitality industry and usher in a new era of luxury tourism in Singapore.”

When completed, the new development is set to further redefine industry standards and push boundaries in the realms of luxury tourism, hospitality and entertainment by curating the finest and most exclusive suite of experiences for travelers.

The pioneering project will feature a soaring 570-suite luxury hotel tower capped with signature rooftop and dining experiences, luxury retail boutiques, gaming, holistic spa and wellness amenities, and approximately 200,000 square feet of premium meeting space. A purpose-built 15,000-seat arena situated against the stunning backdrop of Marina Bay aims to enhance the live entertainment scene in Asia.

Proving to be another extraordinary feat of engineering, the new property is being designed by the acclaimed Safdie Architects, led by Moshe Safdie – the visionary firm behind Marina Bay Sands’ world-renowned design.

A World Beyond

Rotated at a 45-degree angle to frame panoramic views of both the Marina Bay and the Singapore Strait, the 55-story hotel tower will rise with its twin wings curving outward as they ascend toward the sky.

Taking inspiration from the island’s lush urban greenery, the development will have biophilic designs integrated throughout the building along with a significant proportion of green amenities.

The crowning achievement of the hotel tower will be the revolutionary 76,000-square-foot Skyloop – a breathtaking haven that intuitively combines both elevated public and private spaces.

As a counterpart to the iconic Sands SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands, the Skyloop’s form will be defined by overlapping elliptical volumes that spiral in opposing directions, giving the tower an overall dynamic quality and affording 360-degree views. The lower Skyloop will interweave several points of public access, including an observatory, destination restaurants and lush rooftop gardens. Above, hotel guests will enjoy secluded experiences: private cabanas, infinity-edge pools and shading palms. There will also be a cantilevered wellness terrace that is designed for yoga, arts and specialty events.

Situated adjacent to the hotel tower, the podium will serve as a bustling hotspot for business, entertainment and cultural exchange. At its core will be a 15,000-seat state-of-the-art arena, which is being helmed by global design firm Populous – responsible for some of the world’s most recognizable entertainment venues, including the Sphere in Las Vegas and the O2 Arena in London.

Specially designed to host the highest caliber of regional and international touring acts, concerts and large-scale live events, the venue will be optimized for unparalleled acoustics, sight lines and production flexibility.

The venue also will be integrated with new and existing developments within the Marina Bay precinct for greater efficiency and pedestrian connectivity, providing direct access to Bayfront MRT station and linkways between Marina Bay and Gardens by the Bay.

More than 220 guests attended the groundbreaking event, which featured captivating performances by homegrown artist Jasmine Sokko and Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Henry Lau. The lavish affair was accompanied by a curated culinary experience from Marina Bay Sands’ signature restaurants, including a taste preview of upcoming Cantonese restaurant Jin Ting Wan.

To commemorate the occasion, Marina Bay Sands was illuminated in a wash of golden hues –

a stunning public spectacle that spanned the entire property from its three towers and the SkyPark Observation Deck to the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

In celebration of the milestone year of SG60, Marina Bay Sands also commissioned a cinematic tribute to the nation. Titled “Nothing Comes By Chance,” the film by local director Kirsten Tan reflects on Singapore’s commitment to shaping a bright future, underscored by resilience, ambition and constant reinvention that parallels Marina Bay Sands’ growth and spirit. It features prominent Singaporean talents who have helped define its global presence across arts, culture, sports and entertainment, such as Tan Kheng Hua, Quah Zheng Wen, Pierre Png and Jasmine Sokko – offering a heartfelt ode to the nation.

Shaping a Greener Horizon

In line with the Sands ECO360 global sustainability program, sustainability will remain at the heart of the new building’s architecture and operations.

Different approaches toward designing shade for guest comfort and reduced energy consumption are being explored. This includes a self-shading facade system that utilizes high-performance glazing and internal blinds to lower direct solar heat transfer and improve energy efficiency. Each suite will have its own private terrace and garden, while outdoor dining venues will be fitted with canopies to shield guests from the elements. Tree species native to the Southeast Asian region also will be planted where possible, paying tribute to the development’s prime location.

As construction proceeds, best practices will be adopted including the use of materials with reduced environmental impact such as low-carbon concrete and recycled steel to lower the project’s upfront environmental footprint. A construction waste management plan also has been set in place, and on-site segregation and recycling will be implemented. At least 75% of construction waste will be diverted to significantly reduce landfill disposal.

Toward New Heights

Since its inception, Marina Bay Sands has become an iconic symbol of Singapore, transforming the nation’s tourism landscape as a leading leisure, business and entertainment destination in Asia. The resort hosted a record-breaking 2,200 events last year that drew in 1.2 million meetings, incentives, conferences and entertainment (MICE) delegates. This past March, the property welcomed its 500 millionth visitor.

With more than 12,000 Team Members directly employed by the integrated resort and 92% of procurement spent on local businesses in 2024, Marina Bay Sands also has contributed to Singapore’s economy through the creation of new jobs and support for homegrown small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These figures are set to rise in the coming years as Sands expands its operations in Singapore.

“Over the years, Marina Bay Sands has been integral in strengthening Singapore’s position as a major tourism powerhouse,” Dumont said. “By the time our new ultra-luxury development is complete, we will have invested more than $15 billion since we started operations in Singapore in 2010. This speaks volumes about our confidence in this region and the potential that we continue to see in Singapore. We are privileged to have benefited over the past 15 years from factors that make Singapore great – excellent infrastructure and a strong and supportive government with a forward-looking vision.”

Dumont added, “We are proud of the transformative impact that Marina Bay Sands has had and are highly optimistic about building on this strong foundation. Our new development will raise the bar and redefine the ultra-luxury hospitality realm on a global scale, fueling further growth of high-value tourism while our state-of-the-art arena will attract the world’s most popular performers and usher in a new era of live entertainment in the region. We look forward to forging a new chapter together and continuing to contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s future success.”