Raffles’ first Red Sea resort, part of Foster + Partners’ Coral Bloom masterplan, pairs butler service and residential-style villas with destination-led dining, restorative wellbeing and a dedicated cultural curator…
Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced the debut of Raffles The Red Sea. Set between a lagoon and the open sea on the northwestern shores of Shura Island, with expansive views across the Red Sea, the resort follows the contours of the island. It offers a new way to experience Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea through design, dining, culture and the intuitive service for which Raffles is known.
“The opening of Raffles The Red Sea marks an exciting new chapter for Raffles in Saudi Arabia,” said Omer Acar, CEO, Raffles Hotels & Resorts. “Set within one of the world’s most remarkable marine environments, the resort brings the distinctive character of Raffles to a new and compelling destination in the Kingdom. From highly personalised service, delivered through the intuitive care of our butlers, to the comfort and privacy of residential-style accommodations, every element is designed to create a stay that is both inspiring and unmistakably Raffles. As we continue to expand across Saudi Arabia, this opening reflects our ambition to create exceptional hospitality experiences in extraordinary destinations, building on the legacy of legendary service and enchanted glamour that have defined Raffles for nearly 140 years.”
Image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Part of Foster + Partners’ Coral Bloom masterplan, conceived to enhance Shura Island’s natural state, the resort is designed around a close relationship with the water. Light-filled interiors, layered textures and coastal tones draw the surrounding landscape indoors, while terraces, pathways and gardens lead the eye towards the lagoon and open sea.
The resort comprises 121 guestrooms, 14 suites and 33 private pool villas, an intimate collection of accommodations that gives couples, families and multigenerational groups room to experience the island at their own pace. Guestrooms open onto private terraces with lagoon or sea views, while suites offer generous indoor-outdoor living with expansive terraces oriented towards the surrounding waters. Guests in every room, suite and villa will enjoy Raffles’ legendary Butler Service, which anticipates their needs and creates unexpected moments of magic.
Raffles Spa & Wellness and the adults’ pool will be unveiled in a future phase. Designed as a place to pause between the island’s more active moments, the spa will include seven treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna and steam facilities, a vitality pool and an outdoor lap pool. In-room and private rituals will be available for guests who prefer greater privacy. In the meantime, guests can enjoy the gym, padel and water sports.
Image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resorts
The connection to place continues through cultural programming led by a dedicated Raffles Curator. Encounters with local art, literature, storytelling and craftsmanship offer different ways into the region’s living culture. The children’s and teens’ centres, which offer age-specific opportunities to explore, play and create, will open at a later stage. The Curator’s Room will provide an intimate setting for gatherings, celebrations and cultural exchange.
“Our aim is to give guests the freedom to find their own rhythm on the island,” said Charles Saliba, Managing Director, Raffles The Red Sea and Fairmont The Red Sea. “A day might begin on the water, move into the spa, end over dinner by the sea, or unfold more quietly through art, storytelling and time together. The experience is designed to feel personal, unhurried, and connected to the place.”
Image credit: Raffles Hotel & Resort
Shura Island extends the possibilities of each stay. Guests can spend a morning at Shura Links, Saudi Arabia’s first 18-hole island golf course, explore the marina, discover Marina Village and the island’s dining and retail, or take to the coast through WAMA water sports and Galaxea diving and marine discovery. Akun offers land-based activities, while the island’s beaches invite a slower pace.
The destination reflects a regenerative tourism approach, with the development designed to work in close relationship with the island’s natural environment. Powered entirely by renewable energy, Shura Island is reached from Red Sea International Airport by electric vehicle across the 3.3-kilometre Shura crossing.
Main image credit: Raffles Hotels & Resort
