Sands has broken ground on its new US$8 billion resort development in Singapore, marking a major expansion of its footprint in the region.
The event on July 17 was officiated by 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 Miriam Adelson, Sands chairman and CEO Robert Goldstein, and Sands president and COO Patrick Dumont.
When completed, the development will include a 570-suite hotel tower, rooftop dining, retail space, a casino, spa and wellness facilities, and around 18,600m² of meeting space. A 15,000-seat arena will be built alongside the tower to host regional and international live events.
The property is being designed by Safdie Architects, the firm behind Marina Bay Sands (MBS), with a 55-storey tower positioned at a 45-degree angle to offer views of Marina Bay and the Singapore Strait. Its twin wings will curve outward as they rise.
The development will incorporate green features and biophilic design elements, including a 7,060m² rooftop Skyloop combining public and private spaces. The Skyloop will feature gardens, restaurants, an observatory, and guest-only areas such as infinity pools and cabanas.
The new arena is being designed by Populous, the firm behind venues such as the O2 Arena in London and the Sphere in Las Vegas. The venue will be connected to Bayfront MRT station and nearby landmarks for better pedestrian access.
More than 220 guests attended the groundbreaking, which included performances by Singaporean artist Jasmine Sokko and Canadian singer-songwriter Henry Lau. Food was provided by MBS restaurants, including a preview of upcoming Cantonese restaurant Jin Ting Wan.
MBS was lit in gold across its towers and SkyPark to mark the occasion. A short film titled Nothing Comes By Chance, directed by Kirsten Tan and commissioned for SG60, was also released. It features Singaporean personalities such as Tan Kheng Hua, Pierre Png and Quah Zheng Wen, and highlights the nation’s resilience and ambition.
Sustainability will be a focus of the new development. The building will use low-carbon concrete and recycled steel, and a construction waste management plan will be implemented. At least 75 per cent of construction waste is expected to be diverted from landfills.
Each suite will have a private terrace and garden. Outdoor venues will include canopies for weather protection, and native tree species will be planted where possible.
The new development follows a record year for MBS, which hosted 2,200 events and 1.2 million MICE delegates in 2023. In March, it welcomed its 500 millionth visitor.
The resort currently employs more than 12,000 people and directed 92 per cent of its procurement spending to local businesses in 2024. Both figures are expected to grow as the expansion progresses.
Goldstein remarked: “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 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.”
“By the time our new ultra-luxury development is complete, we will have invested more than US$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,” stated Dumont. “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.”
He added: “Our new development will raise the bar and redefine the ultra-luxury hospitality realm on a global scale… we look forward to forging a new chapter together and continuing to contribute meaningfully to Singapore’s future success.”
