The St. Regis Red Sea Resort has opened in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the first private island to open in The Red Sea, one of the Kingdom’s luxury regenerative tourism destinations on the west coast of the country.

Situated on the pristine Ummahat Island in the Al Wajh Lagoon, the resort showcases avant-garde architecture, sustainable design details and bespoke service.

“One of the world’s unexplored treasures, The Red Sea in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is set to become a coveted leisure destination,” said Jenni Benzaquen, senior vice-president and Global Brand Leader, The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “With The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, we are introducing an iconic island address that represents the pinnacle of timeless luxury and pioneering design. We are proud to welcome The St. Regis Red Sea Resort to our growing portfolio and look forward to inviting guests to immerse themselves in this emerging destination.”

Accessed by chartered boat or seaplane from the newly opened Red Sea International Airport, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort features a collection of 90 beachfront and overwater villas, offering one-to-four-bedroom accommodation, each with a private pool, sundeck and outdoor shower.

Designed by architect Kengo Kuma with interiors by Kristina Zanic Consultants, the resort’s design echoes the surrounding coral reefs, marine life and sand dunes. Interior spaces and furnishings take on organic forms with soft curves and spiral shapes. Fabrics are natural and tactile, with a desert inspired color palette imbued with blue and green tones found in the local biodiversity. Contemporary interiors are accented with bespoke elements including custom furniture, marble and woodwork.

Accommodations options include the Dune Villas, which sit on an undisturbed white sand beach with views over the water, and Coral Villas, which are perched over water and connected by elevated walkways.

The St. Regis Red Sea also offers five distinct culinary venues, all offering alfresco beachside dining and serving produce sourced from local farms and fishermen. Dine and drink options include:

• Gishiki 45, a signature restaurant offering serves a Japanese-inspired menu in a light and contemporary space;
• Tilina, a sophisticated “reeftop” overwater grill serving prime cuts infused with local spices and ingredients;
• Nesma, which offers a Levantine-inspired menu throughout the day and overlooks the pool and beach;
• The Beach Club, which serves light dishes and refreshments at the two outdoor pools and beach;
• and The St. Regis Bar, inspired by the iconic bar at the St. Regis New York City.

The resort is also home to The St. Regis Spa, which features eight treatment rooms with gazebos and outdoor baths, private treatment cabins, and male and female grooming salons. Signature treatments include a 24kt Gold facial, a Gold and Caviar ritual to nourish and rejuvenate the body, and a series of immersive wellness journeys incorporating yoga and meditation, all performed with AMRA products.

The resort offers a variety of fitness and wellness activities including a fully equipped gym, an outdoor lap pool and vitality pool, paddle and tennis courts, sunrise and sunset yoga, personal training sessions and nutritional consultations.

The Red Sea is surrounded by the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system and spans over 28,000 square kilometers with an archipelago of more than 90 untouched islands. Ummahat Island is fringed by abundant wildlife, marine ecosystems and natural marvels. Guests will be able to snorkel amongst preserved coral reefs and embark on scuba diving expeditions to nearby wrecks and discovery sites. The island’s crystal-clear, vivid blue water can also be enjoyed by an array of water sports including stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. Excursions to the mainland via a short trip by chartered boat will offer guests the opportunity to explore dormant volcanoes, heritage sites and sweeping desert dunes.

Sustainability & The St. Regis Red Sea Resort

“Heralding a new era of sustainable luxury aligned with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision, we are thrilled to open the first private island resort in The Red Sea,” said Tony Coveney, general manager, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort. “The St. Regis Red Sea Resort offers a distinct view on modern luxury and brings the brand’s timeless elegance and storied heritage to an exciting new destination. We look forward to welcoming guests to an escape to the extraordinary.”

Harnessing innovative technology to create a sustainable destination began at the early stages of the resort’s development. The island resort is powered by one hundred percent renewable energy generated by solar power and one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities located on the mainland. Emphasis on waste reduction and recycling is at the heart of daily operations to deliver advanced water treatment and comprehensive waste management solutions, and a plastic-free environment. The resort’s interiors have been developed in accordance with LEED platinum certification guidelines.

Central to the destination’s mission of preserving its natural surroundings and enhancing habitats that enable biodiversity to flourish are several collaborations with key partners including the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and UK marine robotics company VAARST, whose SubSLAM® technology captures 3D images of the thriving coral across the entire Al Wajh Lagoon. Earlier this year, a mangrove nursery opened on the coast to support the growth of 50 million mangroves by 2030, with the first one million seedlings already planted. This is in addition to The Red Sea being home to the largest landscape nursery in the region which has grown more than five million plants, shrubs and trees to green the destination.