We know that Saudi Arabia is investing an unprecedented amount of money to boost its tourism industry. A big part of this is the Red Sea Project, which covers 28,000 square kilometers on the west coast of the country, and includes an archipelago of more than 90 natural islands. The goal is to build dozens of hotels here by 2030.
Many major luxury hotel groups have committed to opening properties here, and we’re slowly starting to see them open. At the beginning of 2024, we saw the opening of the St. Regis Red Sea Resort. Now we’ve just seen the opening of an even higher end Marriott property, which also has overwater villas.
Let me emphasize that I’m writing about this not because I think everyone should immediately plan a trip to Saudi Arabia, but rather because I find this whole development to be sort of fascinating, and am curious how it evolves.
In this post:
Basics of Saudi Arabia’s Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, has opened to guests as of late May 2024. The resort is located on a private island in Saudi Arabia, and features 63 beachfront and overwater villas, ranging from one to three bedrooms. On top of that, the property has 18 branded homes.
All accommodations here have a private pool. Entry level villas are marketed as being 1,625 square feet (151 square meters), though I assume that includes both indoor and outdoor space.
Despite the resort now being open, details about the amenities are still fairly limited as of now. We know there’s the Neyrah Spa, Conservation House, and Galaxea Diving Center.
As far as dining goes, there are several venues, including Sita (the Middle Eastern all-day dining restaurant), Jamaa (the Mediterranean restaurant), Tabrah (the seafood restaurant), Neyrah (the coffee house), and more.
Since the Ritz-Carlton Reserve is on a private island, it takes a bit of effort to get there. The resort recommends arriving by yacht (which can be arranged through the property), or alternatively, a seaplane transfer can be arranged.
The best way to get to the area in general is to fly to Red Sea International Airport (RSI), which is currently served by Saudia nonstop from Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH), and by FlyDubai from Dubai (DXB).
Ritz-Carlton Reserve Red Sea Resort rates & points requirements
Rates at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Red Sea Resort are jaw-droppingly high. Rates currently start at ~$2,500 per night (below rates are in SAR, and it’s roughly a 4:1 exchange rate), and that’s if you’re visiting in the peak of summer, when it’s unpleasantly hot.
If you want to redeem points at this property, it’s not a bargain either. The absolute lowest nightly rate I see is ~180,000 points, while on many nights the resort is charging well over 200,000 points per night. Yow.
For what it’s worth, I value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents each. So I suppose you come out slightly ahead compared to paying cash, though these are still among the highest points rates you’ll find at any Marriott properties.
Fortunately Ritz-Carlton Reserve participates in Marriott Bonvoy nowadays, as that wasn’t the case up until a couple of years ago.
It’s going to be fascinating to see how this develops
I’m intrigued by Saudi Arabia’s attempt to develop its tourism industry. That’s not because I’m a cheerleader for Saudi Arabia, but rather because we’ve never seen a country invest so much money in tourism so quickly, all while admittedly having a bit of a reputation issue in the West.
It’s unbelievable how many hotels are slated to open in the Red Sea Project in the near future, from a Four Seasons, to a Rosewood, to an EDITION, to a Miraval, to a Grand Hyatt, to an InterContinental, to a Fairmont, and many more.
As of now we only have renderings of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and I can’t help but wonder if the resort actually looks anything like this in person, or if people will be disappointed. Furthermore, the logistics just don’t seem very ironed out yet, given the limited amount of connectivity currently available to the Red Sea Airport.
Below is a video with the progress of this development as of several months ago. While they were presumably able to finish the construction, I have to imagine that vegetation is quite limited as of now.
Bottom line
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Red Sea Resort has opened as of May 2024. The property consists exclusively of beachfront and overwater villas, with each accommodation having a private pool. The rates at this resort are astonishingly high, and start at around $2,500 per night.
The country is hoping to eventually make the Red Sea a huge tourist hotspot, but as of now that’s still a work in progress. I’m curious how this evolves…
What do you make of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Red Sea Resort?
The big problem with most Ritz Reserve properties is how remote they are and difficult they are to get to...
For real. I'm in Abu Dhabi right now.... Only a 20 hour drive to take a boat ride there.
Flying there instead? Try Medina, which is still a 4 hour drive from the property.
With all due respect to religious and cultural laws in Muslim countries…does the hotel have a [posted] set of rules for non-Arab women travelers? The last thing a traveler would want to do is insult the host country. Burkini or bikini or conservative one piece at the pool ? Yes what about non married adults of opposite sex?
Or is this a special area where those “rules” are overlooked?
I know MBS is...
With all due respect to religious and cultural laws in Muslim countries…does the hotel have a [posted] set of rules for non-Arab women travelers? The last thing a traveler would want to do is insult the host country. Burkini or bikini or conservative one piece at the pool ? Yes what about non married adults of opposite sex?
Or is this a special area where those “rules” are overlooked?
I know MBS is trying to make changes and NEOM is supposed to be the new KSA…so very curious.
Does the hotel post a set of “guidelines for non Arabic guests” ?
I stayed at the STR 2 weeks ago. It is very quiet. I flew out of Red Sea airport back to RUH. Flight was full but I think it was employees of the Red Sea Project.
In terms of clothes anything goes (much like Alula). Obviously no alcohol YET.
RC was open for Red Sea employees only. I spoke to a few people who went there (it is the same boat as the STR). They all said it was beautiful. As for cost for the boat it was SAR1702 return.
Why do I get the feeling "anything goes" means something very different in Saudi Arabia? Suns out buns out? Boobies and banana hammocks?
Some background.....I'm female, very pale and blonde hair. I travelled by myself.
Riyadh and Jeddah are changing but still conservative ie woman still typically wear an abaya and cover their face. I would say late 20s to early 30s they wear a full length light weight coat and have a scarf on their hair. Teenagers wear the jacket but don't cover their hair.
Medina (Madinah) obviously far more conservative.
Then I went...
Some background.....I'm female, very pale and blonde hair. I travelled by myself.
Riyadh and Jeddah are changing but still conservative ie woman still typically wear an abaya and cover their face. I would say late 20s to early 30s they wear a full length light weight coat and have a scarf on their hair. Teenagers wear the jacket but don't cover their hair.
Medina (Madinah) obviously far more conservative.
Then I went AlUla. Google it. It is amazing. The hotel I stayed at was predominantly full of Russians followed by Koreans and Chinese. At the pool the bikinis were not a string bikini but were not far off. Honestly I was the most covered up as I wore a long sleeve rashie - purely to avoid getting burnt! Female tourists were outside the resort in shorts and tshirts. There were also lots of tourists wearing the long flowing coats cause well they make great photos for instagram/tiktok.
KSA has a long way to go but has progressed a lot. Not so long ago women couldn't drive, but I hired a car and drove (and yes it is the wrong side of the road for me). I felt very safe there.
I guess people will want to try a new resort but considering the thought that needs to go into planning this ( i.e. should we spend that amount of money for a resort in KSA) it seems too hard when you can go to an equally beautiful resort in the Maldives for example and just relax not wondering if what you’re wearing and how you need to behave is prohibited or frowned upon seems unnecessary
As an current (non-Arab) female expat in Riyadh, I do agree most of things she said. Riyadh is a big city and the capital, one can't simply say it's conservative or not, it really depends on where you are specifically located within Riyadh. Also female clothing expectation is "vastly different" depdning on your nationality(ethnicity) these days and what she described is mostly applied to Saudi or the Gulf ladies. If you're a westerner/well-paid Asian, you're...
As an current (non-Arab) female expat in Riyadh, I do agree most of things she said. Riyadh is a big city and the capital, one can't simply say it's conservative or not, it really depends on where you are specifically located within Riyadh. Also female clothing expectation is "vastly different" depdning on your nationality(ethnicity) these days and what she described is mostly applied to Saudi or the Gulf ladies. If you're a westerner/well-paid Asian, you're pretty much ok with anything as long as you don't reveal your entire arm or leg under knee, no need Abaya at all. As for this, "There were also lots of tourists wearing the long flowing coats cause well they make great photos for instagram/tiktok", I do agree, especially many Arab expat women love to wear it simply for their own conveninece and sort of high-fashion or for hiding their a bit overweighted silhouette ....
Why is this being re-posted, is there an update? Should really be made clear at the beginning of the article.
Seriously. This is happening too often wonder if this is part of Saudi paid marketing.
Curious how much this supposed Yacht or SeaPlane would cost which isn't listed anywhere, does it cost a 4 or a 5 figure sum for a family?
And found this from someone's post on FT:
"From what I've heard from friends living in KSA, the two open Red Sea hotels [St. Regis and Six Senses] are both virtually empty save for the odd royal visiting. The Saudi marketing machine may be operating at 100...
Curious how much this supposed Yacht or SeaPlane would cost which isn't listed anywhere, does it cost a 4 or a 5 figure sum for a family?
And found this from someone's post on FT:
"From what I've heard from friends living in KSA, the two open Red Sea hotels [St. Regis and Six Senses] are both virtually empty save for the odd royal visiting. The Saudi marketing machine may be operating at 100 percent spewing how the country is tourist hot hot hot, but the destination is still completely remote with no or developing infrastructure [the airport is partially completed, there are no entertainment or dining options beyond your resort], the prices are astronomical and there's no booze. Incidentally, the SR has over 50 reviews on TripAdvisor and the SS over 40, which makes me wonder..."
Wonder how many of the reviews ( paid I bet) are from bloggers! Who in their right mind would go to such a godforsaken place - but let’s extol the virtues of booking with a “ special agent” to get $100 off room service and early check in! No sense of reality folks.
As long as non-blood-related adult mixed gender travelers can get in trouble for staying under the same roof in the absence of a marriage certificate accepted by the Saudi authorities, I would be very reluctant to play tourist in Saudi Arabia. It doesn’t take a lot for a local Saudi in a position of relative privilege to be able to blackmail a foreign couple and really ruin a vacation. The same could also be said...
As long as non-blood-related adult mixed gender travelers can get in trouble for staying under the same roof in the absence of a marriage certificate accepted by the Saudi authorities, I would be very reluctant to play tourist in Saudi Arabia. It doesn’t take a lot for a local Saudi in a position of relative privilege to be able to blackmail a foreign couple and really ruin a vacation. The same could also be said about Dubai, but Dubai is more cosmopolitan and the leadership of that Emirate has more of a dependency on foreign tourists than Saudi Arabia will for quite some time.
"The resort recommends arriving by yacht"
I think that says everything you need to know about their target audience.
Completely agree if this property and others will be successful depends on their target audience. The big problem is how difficult it is to get there and that there is nothing around there. There is even less included in a Reserve property than a regular Ritz Carlton....
Recently, flights from the Emirates have started as well. I'm equally curious and impressed by the numerous unique projects under way under the NEOM brand....
Surprised there aren’t easier ways to get to these Red Sea hotels. Limited flights / airline options available.
“ all while admittedly having a bit of a reputation issue in the West.”
A lot of people still can’t wrap their heads around the fact that there’s more to the world than just “the west”.
These resorts will cater a different demographic altogether.
Imagine voluntarily giving money to anything SA
Do you drive a gas powered car? Take a flight anywhere, especially in business or first class? If so, then no imagination needed.
@Lune: There's a difference between indirectly giving them money through unavoidable supply chains and voluntarily spending money in the country.
No there isn't. Cash is cash and no matter what the route, if it ends up in the saudi's pockets then it can be used for the same objectionable purposes.
And besides what's the difference between direct and indirect here? This is a Ritz Carlton. So you're paying them, they pay local workers at the hotel, and their tax revenue goes to the monarchy's coffers. In contrast, Aramco is largely state owned. So if your...
No there isn't. Cash is cash and no matter what the route, if it ends up in the saudi's pockets then it can be used for the same objectionable purposes.
And besides what's the difference between direct and indirect here? This is a Ritz Carlton. So you're paying them, they pay local workers at the hotel, and their tax revenue goes to the monarchy's coffers. In contrast, Aramco is largely state owned. So if your refiner buys their crude from SA, that's a far more direct line of payments than a hotel.
My point with this is that moral outrage is always easy when it's about an activity you don't participate in anyway. But when it's something you yourself need then somehow your brain will decide on a way to convince itself that your actions are fine.
The truth is, SA derives far more income from oil than from hotels. If the OP really wants to be morally outraged he should be advocating for renewable energy (and maybe he does). That will reduce their global influence far more than boycotting their hotels.
"There's a difference between indirectly giving them money through unavoidable supply chains and voluntarily spending money in the country."
Is there though? I've yet to ever hear of anyone in the line of commerce, questioning whether revenue they receive was granted directly or indirectly.......
Been watching this. As an avid snorkeler with a diver daughter, been waiting for this pristine area to open up. Not $2500 a night but the prices will come down as more resorts open.
Having done Sharm to Dahab, this should be prime area. Looked at the Eilat area but doesn't hold a candle to what's available in the South.
Not a drinker so don't care about the liquor situation. Most will be going to sit in the sun, I'll be going to see what below the surface.
Is this REALLY marketed at GCC nationals? Five weekly fights plus a yacht/seaplane is a lot of work. It's not really any harder to get from Riyadh to MLE or SEZ. DXB is a heck of a lot easier. It seems like it has been built 10 years too early. By the time infrastructure is really up to snuff on the Red Sea coast, this resort might already start to be a bit outdated.
Can a gay couple stay there and get a king-sized bed, or with the Saudis cut off their genitals?
It sounds like a terrific place for a holiday!
Never happens, but keep believing everything you’re told.
You could simply say that you feel uncomfortable visiting KSA as a gay man - you don't need to propagate such extremely prejudicial stereotypes
No discomfort at all. This part of the question remains: Can two men request a king-sized bed at this property?
Yes. It’s not uncommon for male cousins and male friends to share a bed for non-sexual purposes, but maybe that depends on from where the persons are perceived to be coming.
@Portlanjuanero: Homosexuality is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. Any person with a set of morals is justified in their outrage. You don't get to tell people to calm down or be civil. If Saudi Arabia repeals their medieval laws we'll stop trashing them in every comments section.
No, but we do get to remind you of recent history, whether you like it or not:
Where several US states still have incarceration (or worse) for homosexual activity in their laws, which are dormant only due to Lawrence v. Texas.... and that Europeans have done more for exporting homophobic norms to cultures that previously didn't have them, than any...
No, but we do get to remind you of recent history, whether you like it or not:
Where several US states still have incarceration (or worse) for homosexual activity in their laws, which are dormant only due to Lawrence v. Texas.... and that Europeans have done more for exporting homophobic norms to cultures that previously didn't have them, than any other people(s).
So don't know where you're from, and have nil reason to care-- but chances are, you need to look closer to home. Because if both of those societies could rapidly change their treatment/attitudes toward gays, despite what may be written into some archaic laws, then so can the Saudis.
Guess we'll see.
When was the last time someone was executed for being gay? This article from 17 years ago demonstrates how common homosexuality is there, and things certainly seem to be a lot less restrictive now: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/the-kingdom-in-the-closet/305774/
More dangerous to be a black straight male in America I would think.
Yes, but try to avoid getting suspected or caught engaging in prohibited sexual relations while in the country. It’s not unheard of for some locals to blackmail foreigners with possible allegations of illegal drug use or “extramarital sexual relations” — as the Saudis may consider it — in order to cover up rape or engage in rape of foreigners in the country.
Just saying that people need to really watch out for themselves by sticking...
Yes, but try to avoid getting suspected or caught engaging in prohibited sexual relations while in the country. It’s not unheard of for some locals to blackmail foreigners with possible allegations of illegal drug use or “extramarital sexual relations” — as the Saudis may consider it — in order to cover up rape or engage in rape of foreigners in the country.
Just saying that people need to really watch out for themselves by sticking to being in larger groups so as to have eye witnesses that get in the way of such abusive allegations having a chance to succeed.
Every time I read about a new overwater villa resort being built I can’t help but wonder how these will all fare with global sea level rise.
About as well as all the world's large coastal cities that aren't doing anything different, which is basically all of them.
It's just a bridge that they all plan on crossing when and if they have to.
Pun Intended :-)
Doesn‘t that tell you all you need to know about rising sea levels?
As always with this topic, it's (ironically) a bit sobering to see how many people cannot fathom the idea of a vacation/good time sans alcohol...
...just as amusing as it is to see them deny that their objection "isn't actually that, but it's a big part of it!"
LOL
It's really sobering how many people can't spend a few hours on a plane or a few days on a vacation without Alcohol. But also funny how many people think that every wealthy person shares the same moral values as the westerners. The target audience will book these hotels
"Westerners"...some of the biggest most alcohol focused people Ive met in my personal and professional life have been Asian, both South Asian and SE Asian
While its not the solitary focus for me, I do find it silly that when its discussed amongst predominantly Muslim destinations, its intimated that only boisterous Americans and/or Europeans can't fathom not drinking.
Forget the Asians, you should see how much some Muslims drink, especially Arabs, even in countries like Saudi Arabia.
The whole reason the bridge between Saudi and Bahrain exists is so that people in Saudi can go party in Bahrain on weekends, since alcohol, bars, and nightclubs are all available in Bahrain. And it isn't just Westerners living in Saudi that cross the bridge...
To be honest the issue isn't so much that people...
Forget the Asians, you should see how much some Muslims drink, especially Arabs, even in countries like Saudi Arabia.
The whole reason the bridge between Saudi and Bahrain exists is so that people in Saudi can go party in Bahrain on weekends, since alcohol, bars, and nightclubs are all available in Bahrain. And it isn't just Westerners living in Saudi that cross the bridge...
To be honest the issue isn't so much that people can't survive without alcohol but that I think people like if the choice is available, even if they don't drink.
Honestly, @ConcordeBoy is the only diamond member of OMAAT who's actually a sane person.
The western centric comments on posts like this always make me smile.. even though I am one myself! Like fancy desert resorts in Dubai, I think the main target audience is wealthy GCC nationals who aren't bothered about alcohol, where they can take their family or bit on the side for some fun/family time and still have privacy and luxury, without having to deal with westerners and their booze. The price certainly reflects their budgets....
The western centric comments on posts like this always make me smile.. even though I am one myself! Like fancy desert resorts in Dubai, I think the main target audience is wealthy GCC nationals who aren't bothered about alcohol, where they can take their family or bit on the side for some fun/family time and still have privacy and luxury, without having to deal with westerners and their booze. The price certainly reflects their budgets. Any other nationalities they get to visit on top of main audience is merely the cherry on the top for them
Then why partner with a western hotel group?
Spend any amount of extended time in the GCC and you'll appreciate that they love nothing more than luxury western brands
Fair enough!
Have you been to a luxury hotels in Oman? Anantara, Alila, Shangri La, Chedi... Its mostly European.
Yup 10 years in the region... And they serve alcohol in Oman.. us westerners are just not the audience for this place right now. In 10 or even 5 years time (how fast things are changing there), who knows.... but for now they'll charge top dollar and get it from their target audience while the new wow factor is there
"Anantara, Alila, Shangri La, Chedi... Its mostly European."
But each one of those you listed are brands originally founded (and most of them still based) in Asia.
... And yet still serve alcohol and target western audiences with lower prices/better points rates. Maybe this Saudi Red Sea place will get like that eventually like I said, but it shouldn't come as a surprise they are milking their wealthy regional market first
"Like fancy desert resorts in Dubai, I think the main target audience is wealthy GCC nationals who aren't bothered about alcohol"
Those resorts cater to quite a few Westerners and Asians as well who do enjoy alcohol there, even if it is under the table sometimes...
If anything, you can't compare those places to this resort, better to compare it to beach resorts of the UAE and Oman, where alcohol is usually available.
How does the water at these resorts compare to the Maldives?
I believe both are H2O
What is the fanciest drink they serve? Some mint tea…
I just got back from Saudi last week.
The creativity with the mocktails and non alcoholic beers are impressive.
Amazing destination. I visited Jeddah and Al Ula on a 4 day stopover coming from Mauritius
This is fascinating and am curious who they will market to. There are already well established Red Sea resorts that cater to westerners in Israel (Eilat) and Egypt (Sharm-el-Sheikh, Hurghada.)
You just answered your own question.
And while KSA does present a bit of a reputation/moralistic issue for some, it's not like the same cannot now be said about visiting Israel (particularly the south) for others.
So who knows-- might be the best time of all for a move like this.
No thanks, Eilat and is good for me.