Raffles Hotels & Resorts Reveals a New Island Sanctuary on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea
The Shura Island resort brings together highly personalized service, destination-led dining, restorative well-being, and Saudi culture.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is excited to announce 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 and 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 personalized 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.”
Part of Foster + Partners' Coral Bloom masterplan, conceived to enhance Shura Island's natural state, Raffles The Red Sea is designed around a close relationship with the water, with expansive views of the Red Sea shaping the experience throughout the resort. 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, offering an intimate collection of accommodations for couples, families, and multigenerational groups room to experience the island at their own pace. Guestrooms open onto private terraces with lagoon or sea views; suites offer generous indoor-outdoor living, with expansive terraces oriented towards the surrounding waters. Guests across every room, suite, and villa will enjoy Raffles' legendary Butler Service, which brings a highly personal touch to every stay, anticipating guests' needs and creating unexpected moments of magic.
Culinary experiences at Raffles The Red Sea move from bright, unhurried mornings to evenings shaped by flavor, conversation, and the changing light over the water. Across five restaurants and lounges, the resort draws on Asian cuisine, the shared-table traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean, and the rich heritage of the Arabian Peninsula. At Ni'ma, Eastern Mediterranean dishes designed for sharing will be served throughout the day, while Siparaja offers a contemporary expression of Raffles' Singaporean roots, inspired by the city-state's layered food culture. By the sea, El Nay will bring together Pan-Arabic mezze, Saudi tea, artisanal coffee, and shisha in a relaxed lounge setting. At the water's edge, Anbara will give the Raffles afternoon tea ritual an Arabian inflection through pastries and regional flavors, while the Pool Bar will offer a relaxed setting for families throughout the day. The resort's dining venues will debut in phases, with the specialty restaurants and bar set to welcome guests at a later stage.
Raffles Spa & Wellness, along with the adults' pool, will be unveiled in a future phase, and is designed as a place to pause between the island's more active moments. Facilities will include seven treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna and steam facilities, a vitality pool, and an outdoor lap pool to support restorative time, with in-room and private rituals available for guests who prefer greater privacy. In the meantime, guests can enjoy available activities on the island, including movement in the gym, and padel and water sports.
The connection to place continues through a 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 dedicated children's and teens' centers will open at a later stage, offering age-specific opportunities to explore, play, and create, while 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."
Beyond the 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 and support a more considered way of experiencing the Red Sea. Powered entirely by renewable energy, Shura Island is reached from Red Sea International Airport by electric vehicle across the 3.3-kilometer Shura crossing..
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