Luxury resort Shebara in the Red Sea

Located in the pristine Al Wajh Lagoon, Shebara has secured a spot on TIME Magazine's prestigious list, The World's Greatest Places of 2025. Floating above the turquoise waters of the Red Sea, this exclusive luxury resort features 73 overwater- and beach villas, resembling a pearl necklace.

Accessible via a 45-minute boat ride or a 30-minute seaplane flight from Red Sea International Airport, Shebara offers a secluded oasis for travelers seeking the perfect combination of luxury, privacy and sustainability. Shebara invites guests to immerse themselves in natural, breathtaking surroundings while enjoying unparalleled service and sustainable design.

Shebara cannot be visited between March and August 2026 because an unknown party has booked the entire resort. However, a stay at the comparable St. Regis Red Sea Resort or InterContinental The Red Sea Resort is possible.

Why Shebara?

While Saudi mega-projects such as The Line still seem like distant futures, Red Sea Global - under the leadership of the country's crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman - has accomplished something tangible.

Just a year ago, Red Sea Global announced ambitious plans to place 73 futuristic stainless steel spheres along a pristine stretch of coastline and launch a new ultra-luxury hotel brand from scratch. 12 months later and Shebara has become a reality - a masterpiece even more impressive in person than the images that appeared on social media in the weeks leading up to the launch.

The setting

Long before you reach the main jetty of Shebara on the Red Sea the resort with its constellation of mirrored villas shimmering in the hot Saudi sun appears. The alien orbs appear to float above the shallow water, weightless as they catch the sunlight and scatter it in kaleidoscopic flashes. From certain angles, they disappear completely, leaving only reflections of the sand, sea and sky.

Spanning a circular length of seven kilometers, the resort unfolds in two distinct halves - on one side, the spheres are connected by wide walkways to an expansive desert island, where secluded beach villas are tucked among softly chiseled dunes, date palms and tamarisk trees, carefully landscaped for maximum privacy.

Nearby, a state-of-the-art gym manned all day by personal trainers, a solid swimming pool, a running track and a cluster of padel and tennis courts provide entertainment for more active guests. On a separate private island at the tip of Shebara is the ultra-exclusive Royal Villas Ensemble - a resort within a resort with its own jetty and four spheres that can accommodate up to 14 guests.

Shebara is characterized by tranquility and seclusion. Except for a few families basking in the sun by the pool, daytime guests generally disappear into the privacy of their villas, or they venture out to dive and/or snorkel in the surrounding waters. At night, however, the resort reveals a much livelier side, as the restaurants fill up with guests, including many who join for dinner from the superyachts.

The story

Once a quiet weekend getaway for picnicking locals from the nearby town of Al Wajh, Shebara Island - a pristine tableau of powder-soft sandy beaches, dense, winding mangroves and colorful coral reefs - has undergone a stunning transformation. Back in 2019, this pristine island was brought out of anonymity as part of the sweeping Vision 2030 reforms of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, a blueprint to shift Saudi Arabia's fortunes from oil to industries such as tourism and entertainment.

With global luxury brands coming forward to plant their flags on the kingdom's shores, Shebara is emerging as an indigenous challenger - a brilliant invitation for Saudis to rediscover their homeland and for international travelers to experience it through a new lens.

To realize this ambitious project, Red Sea Global engaged Killa Design - the avant-garde architects behind icons such as Dubai's Museum of the Future and Jumeirah's recently opened Marsa Al Arab hotel - with the task of creating something extraordinary.

The resulting spheres were custom-made in the UAE and shipped to Saudi Arabia. In early November 2024, Shebara officially welcomed its first guests and debuted as a symbol of the kingdom's reshaped future.

The rooms

While the bulbs gleam like alien spacecraft on the horizon, the interiors are surprisingly soft. Sliding glass doors retract at the push of a button and lead to a pool that flows into the Red Sea (water temperature can be raised upon request). Inside, the yacht-like aesthetic is reflected in sand-colored walls bordered by sleek black details, undulating sofas covered in textured linens and a freestanding bathtub that anchors the room.

Small details add layers of intrigue. The TV disappears into a discreet cabinet, leaving the room's sculptural design undisturbed, while the crimson and silver minibar opens automatically to reveal a selection of Lyre's non-alcoholic beverages.

Outside, a round dining table sunk into the pool and a generous crescent-shaped daybed invite long, invigorating evenings or lazy mornings - breakfast can be served on floating trays for the ultimate Instagram moment.

A freestanding shower room, clad in marble, is seamlessly integrated into the curved edge of the sphere, with custom-made glass panels subtly reflecting the surrounding architecture. The shower head turns a simple rinse into a misty escape, while color-changing lights above - operated by remote control - let you bathe under a soothing glow of different hues, depending on your mood.

Culinary

Five restaurants adorn the resort. First up is Italian dinner restaurant Ariamare, just off the main lobby, which stands out for its simple pastas prepared by Michelin-award-winning chef Marco Garfagnini. Saria, a breezy Mediterranean café near the southern beach, keeps it casual, while Solera - located above the trendy, breezy adult-only pool on the other side of the island - attracts attention at lunch with a menu of spicy, Asian-inspired crispy rice, tacos and sandos stuffed with marinated tofu or meat. Iki.Roe, the resort's most sophisticated dining venue, offers Japanese-Peruvian dishes and thus a powerful taste experience, amid contemporary glass interiors that evoke clean lines of bamboo forests.

Breakfast at Lunara combines small buffet classics with a menu of well-executed regional favorites such as shakshuka and falafel, topped off with "sweet treats" including an amazing vanilla-dipped brioche French toast sprinkled with cinnamon and jewel-like pomegranate seeds. Room service, including a full breakfast menu, is available 24 hours a day.

For now, all restaurants are priced on an a la carte basis, but the hotel is considering introducing half- and full-board.

The spa

The spa's rough, earthy stone facade blends into the desert landscape. Step inside and the atmosphere changes - a sleek minimalist entrance hall unfolds, centered on the ancient, twisted branches of a 2,700-year-old olive tree reaching through an open skylight.

Outside, the vitality pool bubbles under the sun, surrounded by plush, oversized loungers, while inside you'll find a warmer jacuzzi tub, sauna, steam room and experience shower - plus an ice station for a refreshing jolt to break up the relaxation.

Massage cabanas adorn the beach for invigorating waterfront treatments, and the spa also houses an airy relaxation lounge, a hairdresser, a mani-pedi studio and a yoga pavilion.

Treatments, with products from British brand Amra and Swiss skincare expert Dr. Burgener, use exquisite products such as pearl, green caviar and gold - the Moonlight Meteorite Massage uses real space dust to shimmer skin, render muscles weightless and send stress into the stratosphere.

Sustainable

The resort runs entirely on clean, renewable energy, powered by its own on-site solar farm, while fresh water comes from a state-of-the-art desalination plant. Surrounded by thriving mangroves - nature's unsung heroes in protecting coastlines and supporting marine life - the island is home to several protected turtle nests, while rare sooty falcons have been gracefully spotted above the island.

A beach vacation in Shebara?

Inform here about the options for a beach vacation at Shebara in the Red Sea.

Shebara was recently voted by TIME Magazine as The World's Greatest Places of 2025..

Shebara cannot be visited between March and August 2026 because an unknown party has booked the entire resort. A stay at the comparable The St. Regis Red Sea Resort or InterContinental The Red Sea Resort is possible.

A beach vacation at this resort can be perfectly combined with bustling Riyadh, historic Hegra or authentic Jeddah.