In a region where the extraordinary is expected, a handful of properties rise above the rest.
These are spaces where true luxury lives in the details – in architecture that honours its environment, in service that anticipates every desire, and in a singular sense of place that cannot be replicated. Our editorial mission was to find these benchmarks, bringing you addresses that are destinations in themselves.
Desert Rock, The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Even the most seen-it-all-before luxury traveller will find Desert Rock awe-inspiring – I gasped the first time I saw the property. Sensitively integrated into a cluster of mountains, its inventory is remarkable: some suites are embedded within the peak of a towering, cappuccino-coloured massif; and the standalone three-bedroom Royal Villa overlooks a Mars-like outcrop of russet rocks, a wonderfully surreal panorama. But even with design this exceptional, and a level of architectural audacity you only find in Saudi Arabia, the resort doesn’t rest on its beauty. A vast spa is packed with amenities, elemental restaurant Nyra celebrates wood-fire cooking, and an imaginatively curated programme of activities covers everything from floating sound bath sessions to zip wiring.
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
A decades-long advocate for sustainability and regenerative tourism, Six Senses’ values are evident from the moment you set foot in the property: the outdoor lobby is crowned by a soaring palm-like canopy that noticeably reduces the temperature without relying on AC (though you can always order a complimentary scoop of cinnamon ice cream from the neighbouring Gelato Pod if you want to cool down further). Plus, all the expected resort amenities – a gorgeous cabana-lined outdoor pool, intimate yoga sessions – are supplemented by novel touches that draw together global travel trends and engaging encounters with Saudi culture. This means a typical day might begin with a high-tech biohacking experience at the spa before guests join an artisan workshop to learn about Al Sadu weaving.
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, Saudi Arabia
The weight of expectation weighed heavily on The St. Regis Red Sea Resort when it opened in January 2024. On its own private island, it was the first beach resort to open at The Red Sea destination – in many ways its debut was expected to set the tone for the entire country’s turbo-charged new era of outward-facing, trend-setting luxury hospitality. Though they’re often distracted by all-encompassing maritime beauty (The St. Regis is minutes from Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and enjoys the same superlative snorkelling and diving), guests get a sense of the resort’s pioneer pedigree through Japanese architect Kengo Kuma’s striking design approach – curved timber villas slink into the sand or spiral over the water – and can enjoy endless pampering as they flit between the beach club, pools, and spa.
Banyan Tree AlUla, Saudi Arabia
The allure of AlUla’s age-old heritage and bold ambitions for the future are brought into striking focus at Banyan Tree AlUla. Set amidst the knobbly mountains of the Ashar Valley, the resort’s Rock Art Trail leads guests to millennia- old petroglyphs; walk in another direction and they’ll soon encounter Maraya, a multifunctional events space and concert hall that is also the world’s largest mirrored building. There’s plenty more on offer besides, including rock climbing and hot air ballooning, though it’s tempting to do very little at all. Most featuring private pools, vast tented villas blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape and make perfect sanctuaries for couples looking to rest and reconnect in a setting of staggering natural beauty.
Our Habitas AlUla, Saudi Arabia
A short drive from the Banyan Tree, AlUla’s Our Habitas retreat delivers similarly striking backdrops alongside the playful and innovative programming for which the emerging Our Habitas hospitality brand is known. Complementing more conventional facials and massages, the Thuraya Wellness spa menu offers the likes of meditative dance and tapping, which “releases stuck and unexpressed emotions” to heighten confidence; complimentary activities include tours of surrounding art installations and sociable mixology masterclasses. It’s all supplemented by Middle Eastern- inspired dining at Tama and the promise of lazy mornings by the pool, beautifully framed by dramatic sandstone canyons.
Thuwal Private Retreat, Saudi Arabia
You may not have heard of Thuwal Private Retreat previously. Though it’s one of the star properties within Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Global hospitality portfolio, it trades on absolute discretion and the promise of total exclusivity: access to this private island off the coast of Jeddah is only available to parties who book out its complete inventory – a three-bed villa and three one-bed pavilions, all with immediate sea views. Of course, anyone lucky enough to stay here is promised non- stop pampering – think impromptu dolphin-spotting yacht trips, customised spa treatments, and outdoor evening film screenings right on the beach. The real draw here, however, is the opportunity to enjoy uninterrupted, unhurried time with friends and family.
Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman
Visitors to Alila Jabal Akhdar are left awestruck even before they arrive at the resort, set 2,000 metres up Oman’s Al Hajar Mountains: the winding, vertiginous road that leads here reveals its own phenomenal panoramas before the clifftop resort itself finally appears, and weary travellers can revive with a drink by the infinity pool. Over subsequent days, further indulgences might include sunset picnics (not too) close to a precipice with canyon views, or open-air spa treatments in breezy cabanas, where blissful massages make generous use of fragrant vanilla, fresh coconut, and locally farmed pomegranate.
Bab Al Shams, Dubai, UAE
A grande dame by Dubai standards and one of the Middle East’s definitive desert camps, Bab Al Shams delivered an arabesque fantasy to many of the emirate’s expat residents when it opened back in 2004. A more recent takeover by Kerzner International, which absorbed the resort into its nascent Rare Finds portfolio and supported a comprehensive renovation before a 2023 reopening, has ensured this chic retreat will wow sophisticated travellers for many more years to come. Now lighter and fresher, its rooms, suites, and pool villas are immensely photogenic and inviting; updated dining options include Mediterranean and Middle Eastern specialist Zala; and activities such as camelback trekking and Arabian horse riding invite visitors to explore their spectacular surroundings in distinctive, local style.
Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain, Bahrain
It’s the all-enveloping elegance that first hits you upon arrival at this Raffles, right from the moment you enter its towering pearlescent lobby, complete with twinkling fountain and cascades of greenery, it’s clear you’ve entered one of the most sophisticated resorts in the Middle East. It’s an impression that only intensifies when you check-in and are whisked to your accommodation. This is an all-villa property, with guests enjoying complete privacy (and nothing’s-too-much-trouble butler service) in whitewashed residences with their own courtyards, pools, and hot tubs.
Anantara Qasr Al Sarab, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Drive deep into the shifting sands of Abu Dhabi’s foreboding Empty Quarter, and eventually you might spot a sun-bleached turret rising into view amidst the endless folds of towering dunes. It’s an unforgettable introduction to this palace in the desert, a remarkable resort which, even in this most remote of settings, somehow manages to deliver all manner of indulgences and amenities. Unsurprisingly, activities capitalise on these magical surroundings. Think dune bashing, desert biking, and falconry, though guests are just as likely to enjoy pool days, varied dining across six restaurants and lounges, and lots of long lie-ins. In a place this serene and silent, an amazing night’s sleep is pretty much guaranteed.
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
North of the UAE, the Musandam Peninsula is a curious exclave of Oman that sits removed from the rest of the country. Right by the sea and framed by the looming Al Hajar Mountains, Six Senses has operated within this slightly surreal setting for close to two decades. Removed from the rest of the world, in that time the team has finessed its own idiosyncratic approach to hospitality, famously, the resort incorporates its own launchpad, 300 metres up, from which guests can paraglide into the property. On site, 82 stone-walled, wooden-beamed villas feature private pools, GEMS (or Guest Experience Managers) can arrange immersions in local crafts, from date palm weaving to henna painting, and this being a Six Senses, the wellness offering is extensive and exceptional.
WINNER OF BEST IN LUXURY RESORTS & ISLAND RETREATS
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve was always destined to be special. Even before its opening, Ritz-Carlton’s leaders gave the resort their ultimate endorsement when they named it a “Reserve,” an ultra-rare classification, shared by just eight Ritz-Carltons globally, which confirms a hotel occupies a setting of outstanding natural beauty and delivers exceptional hospitality. In Nujuma’s case, that location is an immaculate private island, fringed by emerald green mangrove forests, lapped by the Red Sea’s warm waters, and surrounded by the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef. Divers and snorkellers will be wowed for days by kaleidoscopic corals and thriving sea life, though Nujuma’s overwater offering is just as compelling. Seashell-shaped villas are truly distinct and effortlessly romantic – in-room telescopes that allow for spontaneous night-time stargazing and private pools, are among the thoughtful touches – while a diverse culinary offering covers everything from French patisserie to a mocktail menu inspired by astronomy.
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