A New Frontier of Luxury: The Hotels Redefining Saudi Arabia

Photo: Courtesy of Our Habitas AlUla

Saudi Arabia’s new wave of luxury hospitality feels like discovering a world that has been quietly waiting for its moment. Here, in landscapes shaped by wind, water, and centuries of cultural exchange, some of the most imaginative hotels on earth are beginning to take form. From desert sanctuaries carved into prehistoric rock to futuristic overwater villas that gleam like floating jewels, each property offers its own interpretation of effortless elegance — rooted in heritage, elevated by design, and softened by the stillness of the natural world.

This collection highlights the destinations redefining what travel in the region can look like today. These aren’t simply hotels; they’re atmospheric experiences shaped by architecture, wellness, sustainability, and a deep respect for place. Whether it’s the quiet ritual of sunrise among AlUla’s sandstone cliffs, the shimmer of the Red Sea’s untouched reefs, or the pleasure of returning to a suite that feels tailor-made for you, each stay reveals a different side of the kingdom’s emerging story.

Consider this your guide to the properties that best embody refined adventure — polished, soulful, and undeniably captivating. The journey begins where tradition meets innovation, and where luxury feels as natural as the desert breeze.

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Photo: Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

1. Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve— The Red Sea

Nujuma feels like the kind of place that rewrites your definition of barefoot luxury. As Saudi Arabia’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve—only the sixth in the world—it brings the Reserve’s signature spirit of quiet, rarefied hospitality to the crystalline waters of the Red Sea. The resort sits across private islands shaped by centuries of wind and water, where powder-soft sands meet lagoons that shift from turquoise to sapphire in the late afternoon sun.

Villas are designed as modern sanctuaries—soft curves, natural textures, and generous decks that blur the line between indoors and out. Expect private pools, warm neutral palettes, and spaces that frame the sea as though it were part of the architecture. The experience here feels deeply personal: intuitive but never intrusive, elegant without trying. Guests spend slow mornings snorkeling untouched reefs and evenings dining under some of the clearest skies on earth. Nujuma invites you into a world that is both polished and wildly raw—a place where luxury feels as natural as the tide.

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Photo: Courtesy of Our Habitas AlUla

2. Our Habitas AlUla — AlUla

Set within AlUla’s otherworldly Ashar Valley, Our Habitas blends sustainability, creativity, and contemporary desert living in a way that feels effortlessly cool. The resort embraces a low-impact philosophy—prefab villas were assembled on-site to protect the fragile landscape—but nothing about the experience feels understated. Instead, there’s a sense of soulful richness: terracotta tones, desert grasses, sun-baked cliffs rising dramatically behind each villa.

Inside the rooms, minimalist lines meet warm textures—woven fabrics, handcrafted ceramics, open-air decks perfect for morning coffee or stargazing at night. It feels like a living gallery where nature is the main exhibit. Guests move slowly here: sunrise yoga facing red sandstone canyons, dips in the infinity pool carved into the valley floor, and communal dinners inspired by regional flavors. Habitas understands that luxury can be light, intentional, and deeply human. This is the kind of property where you come to reconnect—with nature, with culture, and most unexpectedly, with yourself.

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Photo: Courtesy of Banyan Tree AlUla

3. Banyan Tree AlUla — AlUla

Banyan Tree AlUla sits in a secluded pocket of the Ashar Valley, where monumental sandstone formations rise like ancient guardians around the resort. Inspired by desert tented camps yet elevated with Banyan Tree’s signature Asian-inflected elegance, the property blends cultural reverence with contemporary refinement. Every angle is cinematic—the kind of scenery that makes you pause mid-sentence.

Villas are designed for privacy and immersion, featuring warm desert palettes, handcrafted details, outdoor fire pits, and plunge pools with uninterrupted canyon views. The interiors feel grounded yet glamorous, like a secret desert residence curated for travelers who appreciate texture, atmosphere, and a touch of mystique. Evenings unfold slowly: spa rituals grounded in local ingredients, dinner beneath the cliffs glowing in amber light, and stargazing that feels almost spiritual. Banyan Tree AlUla is both a homage to the region’s history and a masterclass in modern desert luxury.

Check rates and book here.

Photo: Courtesy of The St. Regis Red Sea Resort

4. The St Regis Red Sea Resort — The Red Sea

The St. Regis Red Sea Resort brings the brand’s signature glamour to a pristine archipelago, where villas float above turquoise waters and private beaches curve along untouched shores. This is St. Regis at its most serene—less Manhattan opulence, more refined coastal elegance—yet still guided by the hallmark butler service and sense of ritual the brand is known for.

Overwater and beachfront villas are styled in modern Arabian-Mediterranean tones: soft linens, sculptural lighting, polished wood, and panoramic windows that pull the sea into every moment. Days drift between snorkeling kaleidoscopic reefs, sailing quiet channels, and indulging in spa treatments inspired by regional wellness traditions. At sunset, the island glows gold, making champagne toasts feel almost like a natural event. It’s polished, it’s dreamy, and it’s unmistakably St. Regis—reimagined for a new frontier of luxury travel.

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Photo: Courtesy of The Red Sea EDITION

5. The Red Sea EDITION — The Red Sea

The Red Sea EDITION brings the brand’s signature urban-cool aesthetic to an entirely new frontier—crystalline waters, coral reefs, and a gentle island breeze that softens EDITION’s typically edgy profile. Here, the look is lighter: sun-washed woods, sculptural neutrals, organic textures, and open spaces that let the setting do most of the talking.

Rooms and suites feel effortlessly chic, with curated art, calm palettes, and floor-to-ceiling windows that usher in the Red Sea’s luminous blues. Signature EDITION touches—like thoughtful minibars, plush bedding, and refined dining—remain, but the property leans into its coastal context with airy lounges and beachfront relaxation. Days might include snorkeling, cruising between islands, or simply enjoying the stillness of a modern hideaway surrounded by untouched nature. It’s EDITION, but more relaxed, more coastal, and perfectly tuned for the next era of Middle Eastern luxury travel.

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Photo: Courtesy of Six Senses Southern Dunes

6. Six Senses Southern Dunes — The Red Sea

Six Senses Southern Dunes is a celebration of Saudi Arabia’s ancient caravan routes, reimagined through cutting-edge sustainability and desert architecture. The resort rises from the dunes like a mirage—sleek, sculptural, and intentionally low-impact. Its design draws from Nabataean heritage, with sand-colored facades, organic curves, and airy interiors flooded with desert light.

Suites and villas bring Six Senses’ wellness-centric ethos to the forefront: private pools overlooking the dunes, calm earth-toned palettes, outdoor showers, and intuitive touches like natural sleep amenities and meditation nooks. The Earth Lab highlights the resort’s sustainability mission, while the spa—one of the brand’s most impressive—blends traditional therapies with modern biohacking. Evenings are quiet and cinematic: pink-gold sunsets, expansive silence, and starlit skies that feel infinite. Six Senses Southern Dunes is luxury through an ecological lens—thoughtful, atmospheric, and beautifully attuned to place.

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Photo: Courtesy of Shebara

7. Shebara Resort — The Red Sea

Shebara is the futuristic heart of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea development—a resort defined by bold design, solar-powered innovation, and a setting that feels almost otherworldly. Located on Sheybarah Island, the property’s stainless-steel villas glisten like pearls floating above impossibly clear water. Their mirrored surfaces reflect the sea and sky, creating a sense of weightless calm.

Inside, the villas feel quietly decadent—sleek lines, warm textures, ambient lighting, and bathrooms positioned for sunrise or sunset views. The experience is deeply sensory: snorkeling living reefs directly from your deck, hearing nothing but water against stilts, watching stars appear through unpolluted skies. It’s luxury redesigned for the future—minimalist yet indulgent, bold but deeply relaxing. Shebara is for travelers who love design, innovation, and the idea of staying somewhere truly unlike anywhere else on earth.

Check rates and book here.

Photo: Courtesy of Desert Rock

8. Desert Rock — The Red Sea

Desert Rock is one of the most ambitious hospitality concepts in the region—a resort literally carved into geological formations that are millions of years old. The idea is simple but extraordinary: create a luxury escape that disappears into the landscape. Suites and villas are nestled into cliffs, built around boulders, or embedded within rock faces, resulting in spaces that feel ancient yet unmistakably modern.

Interiors pair raw stone textures with refined finishes—think smooth timber, sand-washed linens, and panoramic windows framing canyon views. The experience is intentionally immersive: hiking through sculpted valleys, exploring hidden ridges, or savoring dinner under a sky bright enough to reflect on the sand. Desert Rock is for travelers who crave something elemental—a retreat where nature is the architecture and luxury feels deeply connected to the land itself.

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Photo: Courtesy of Dar Tantora The House Hotel

9. Dar Tantora The House Hotel — AlUla

Dar Tantora is one of AlUla’s most culturally significant openings—a restoration project that breathes new life into the mudbrick homes of the Old Town. Instead of constructing something new, the property revives traditional architecture with exquisite care, preserving narrow passageways, hand-painted motifs, and heritage craftsmanship. Staying here feels like stepping inside a living museum, but with every modern comfort subtly woven in.

Rooms are individually designed, featuring natural plasters, wooden beams, woven textiles, and intimate lighting that highlights the building’s original textures. No two spaces feel alike, which adds to the charm—it’s as though the Old Town itself is hosting you. Guests can enjoy slow breakfasts in shaded courtyards, wander historic alleys, or join cultural workshops that honor the region’s traditions. Dar Tantora offers a soulful, story-rich interpretation of luxury—quiet, personal, and rooted in heritage.

Check rates and book here.