St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has opened The St. Regis Red Sea Resort in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This hotel is the first private island to open in The Red Sea, one of the Kingdom’s luxury regenerative tourism destinations on the country’s west coast.
Location
Accessed by chartered boat or seaplane from the newly opened Red Sea International Airport, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort is situated on the pristine Ummahat Island in the Al Wajh Lagoon. This resort is a destination-defining oasis with its avant-garde architecture, sustainable design details, and bespoke service set in the heart of the Red Sea master plan development.
Much like the upcoming Four Seasons Resort at The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, which will become one of the best Four Seasons beach resorts, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort is a beachfront resort in Saudi Arabia’s luxury lifestyle destination and the region’s foremost luxury beachside destination.
The Red Sea comprises idyllic natural islands and lagoons across 200 kilometers (124 miles) of coastline along the western coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between the cities of Umluj and Al Wajh.
The Red Sea destination is being built with sustainable practices and tourism at its core. The environmental impact of the development will be minimized, and the destination will rely on renewable energy and will only develop a small portion of the islands with expansive dedicated conservation zones.
Earlier this year, a mangrove nursery opened on the coast to support the growth of 50 million mangroves by 2030, with the first one million seedlings already planted. This is in addition to The Red Sea being home to the region’s largest landscape nursery, which has grown more than five million plants, shrubs, and trees to green the destination. These partnerships underpin the resort’s commitment to marine conservation and ecological sustainability and align with the broader vision of creating diverse opportunities for the Saudi Arabian community.
Style & Character
Designed by architect Kengo Kuma with interiors by Kristina Zanic Consultants, the resort’s design echoes the surrounding coral reefs, marine life, and sand dunes.
Interior spaces and furnishings take on organic forms with soft curves and spiral shapes. Fabrics are natural and tactile, with a desert-inspired color palette imbued with blue and green tones found in the local biodiversity. Contemporary interiors are accented with bespoke elements, including custom furniture, marble, and woodwork.
Rooms
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort features a collection of 90 lavishly appointed beachfront and overwater villas, offering one-to-four-bedroom accommodation, each with a private pool, sundeck, and outdoor shower.
The open and spacious villas blend the outdoors inwards and capture unrivaled sea views from sunrise to sunset. Surrounded by swaying palm trees, each deck is a peaceful place to star gaze at night.
Nestled on an undisturbed white sand beach with expansive vistas over the azure water, the Dune Villas reflect the shape of sweeping desert sand formations. Perched overwater and connected by elevated walkways, the Coral Villas take the form of shells and offer direct access to the sea from each deck.
Elegantly designed and thoughtfully curated, the secluded villas offer a private place to unwind in a residential style synonymous with the St. Regis brand. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame picturesque sea views and flood the living spaces, bedrooms, and bathrooms with natural light. The legendary St. Regis Butler Service, a personalized hallmark of the brand for over a century, ensures that each guest’s preferences are anticipated at every turn.
Service & Facilities
The Red Sea is surrounded by the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system and spans over 28,000 square kilometers with an archipelago of more than 90 untouched islands. Ummahat Island is fringed by abundant wildlife, marine ecosystems, and natural marvels.
Guests can snorkel amongst preserved coral reefs and embark on scuba diving expeditions to nearby wrecks and discovery sites. Various water sports are available, including stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking, to enjoy the island’s crystal-clear, vivid blue water.
Excursions to the mainland via a short trip by chartered boat will offer guests the opportunity to explore dormant volcanoes, heritage sites, and sweeping desert dunes.
Beyond the beach and the pools, the St. Regis Spa is an enclave of serenity featuring eight treatment rooms with gazebos and outdoor baths, private treatment cabins, and male and female grooming salons.
Signature treatments include a 24kt Gold facial, a Gold and Caviar ritual to nourish and rejuvenate the body, and a series of immersive wellness journeys incorporating yoga and meditation, all performed with AMRA products.
The resort offers a variety of fitness and wellness activities including a fully equipped gym, an outdoor lap pool and vitality pool, paddle and tennis courts, sunrise and sunset yoga, personal training sessions, and nutritional consultations. Through the brand’s Family Traditions program, the Little Treasures Children’s Club and the large outdoor adventure area are colorful and lively spaces for younger guests.
Food & Drink
Exceptional culinary journeys are presented through the luxury resort’s five distinct venues, and each offering alfresco beachside dining and serving produce sourced from local farms and fishermen.
Two signature restaurants are perfect settings for intimate or romantic dining experiences. Gishiki 45 features an enticing Japanese-inspired menu in a light and contemporary space, while Tilina is a sophisticated ‘reeftop’ overwater grill serving prime cuts infused with local spices and ingredients. Nesma offers a Levantine-inspired menu throughout the day, overlooking the glistening pool and peaceful beach.
The Beach Club serves light dishes and refreshments to the resort’s two outdoor pools and beach lined with plush cabanas. The iconic St. Regis Bar, inspired by King Cole Bar at The St. Regis New York, presents a “Coral Mary” mocktail, a local take on the brand’s signature Bloody Mary infused with sumac, turmeric, and spirulina algae, served in custom-designed glassware by Saudi fashion designer, Qormuz.
Conclusion
The Red Sea is the ideal destination for those looking to uncover the wonders of the ancient Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the close proximity to the ruins at Mada’in Saleh, as well as the natural attractions such as the environmentally protected coral reefs and mangroves, dormant volcanoes, local wildlife, and much more.
Or you might prefer to relax on the sand in front of your beachfront room, soak in the sun, or dive down to explore the coral reefs.
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Image courtesy of The St. Regis Red Sea Resort.
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