Three resorts, three architectural approaches
On Sheybarah Island, Shebara Resort is defined by its stainless-steel villas, designed to reflect the changing light of the lagoon while offering resistance to the demanding marine environment.
Further inland, Desert Rock takes a radically different approach. Set within Saudi Arabia’s mountainous landscape, the resort integrates its architecture directly into the surrounding rock formations, creating spaces that appear carved from the terrain itself.
Six Senses Southern Dunes draws inspiration from the region’s Nabataean heritage. Its architecture responds to the surrounding landscape and incorporates design principles intended to reduce reliance on air conditioning.
A deliberately limited visitor flow
The destination has set a target of no more than one million visitors per year, with the capacity designed around the environmental sensitivity of its marine ecosystems rather than simply the number of hotel rooms available.
The Red Sea destination is also designed to operate entirely on renewable energy, making sustainability a central component of its development strategy rather than an additional feature.
A flagship project for Vision 2030
Developed by Red Sea Global, a company owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the wider destination is planned to include 50 hotels and more than 8,000 rooms by 2030.
Shura Island, designed as one of the destination’s principal hospitality hubs, is expected to become fully operational in 2026, with 11 resorts and a golf course.
The project forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy while positioning the country as a major player in international luxury tourism.
Source: Luxsure
