Saudi Arabia hes just welcomed the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, the country’s first private island resort. The luxury accommodation is located on the Ummahat Island in the Al Wajh Lagoon in the Red Sea. With 90 beachfront and overwater villas, several restaurant facilities on-site and a modern decor, the luxury aspect of the resort isn’t hard to spot.
Part of the Marriott family, the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts were already an established part of the hospitality industry. With branches in New York, the Maldives and Mexico, the brand of the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts caters to a luxury public. The new Red Sea Resort takes things a step further, with a prime location and a historical first for the tourism landscape in Saudi Arabia.
“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, SVP and Global Brand Leader of 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.”
Guests of the newly-opened resort will be able to access the private island by chartered boat or seaplane from the newly opened Red Sea International Airport. Once arrived on-site, they will find an ensemble of 90 villas designed by architect Kengo Kuma with interiors by Kristina Zanic Consultants. The designs are meant to echo the coral reefs, marine life and sand dunes surrounding the resort, focusing therefore on organic shapes, natural materials and soft colours.
As far as activities go, guests won’t have to leave the island in order to enjoy a resourcing holiday. On-site restaurants, such as the Japanese-inspired Gishiki 45 and the Levantine-inspired Nesma, assure a culinary rich experience, while the St. Regis Spa offers luxurious relaxing opportunities. Several pools, a tennis court and work-out classes make sure anyone staying at the resort can keep up with their daily work-out schedule.
With the fourth-largest barrier reef system at its feet, Ummahat Island is surrounded by astonishing wildlife and the St. Regis Red Sea Resort is sparing no efforts to blend in with those sustainable surroundings. Not only is the resort 100% powered by solar energy, it is also plastic-free and focusing on waste reduction and recycling . Collaborations which organisations such as the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and UK marine robotics company VAARST are key to the destination’s mission of preserving its precious natural surroundings and enhancing habitats that enable biodiversity to flourish. By doing so, the resort is aligning itself with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an “ambitious roadmap for economic diversification, global engagement and enhanced quality of life”.
