At Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning Red Sea tourism corridor, a retreat laden with bold designs and meaningful sustainability is taking shape. Cue in Shebara Resort, the latest addition to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation into a high-end eco-tourism hub. Signalling a new era of regenerative tourism and design-driven luxury, this 72-villa retreat— some perched over water, others nestled on untouched sands—claims to be one of the most technologically and architecturally-daring properties in the world.
Created by Killa Design, the visionary firm behind Dubai’s Museum of the Future, the resort’s architecture is inspired by sea life. Overwater villas take the shape of stainless steel orbs arranged like a string of pearls suspended above coral gardens. The supporting columns for the overwater villas touch a few square metres of the seabed in an attempt to minimise environmental impact. In fact, its conscious luxury attempts extend resort-wide. Shebara Resort is powered by a solar panel park, making it fully off-grid and carbon-neutral. The biking and walking paths for guests encourage awareness of this regenerative ethos.
Interiors That Exude Calm
While the architecture imitates extraterritorial landing pods, the interiors are more familiar. Toronto-based Studio Paolo Ferrari was tasked for this. The result? A design language Ferrari calls ‘natural futurism.’ The furnishings reflect fluidity with curved surfaces, while materials range from hand-tooled leather, cast glass, oak, and travertine. Given the pod-like structure of the villas, every inch was maximized using 3D modelling techniques. From the 188-square-metre One-Bedroom Overwater Villas to the exclusive Royal Villa Ensemble (an islet with four-bed accommodation and private yacht dock), each space is designed to feel simultaneously futuristic and familiar.
Tasting Diversity
Interiors by Rockwell Group pay homage to the flora and fauna of the marine ecosystem through biomorphic design touches, while the culinary programme takes guests on a global adventure. At iki.roe, guests are invited inside an interactive kitchen where Nikkei cuisine and omakase menus take the spotlight. At Ariamare, led by chef Marco Garfagnini, savour Italian cuisine. The family-friendly brasserie Lunara blends sweeping views with comfort classics, while Saria serves Levantine flavours in a laidback setting. For those chasing Red Sea sunsets with a glass in hand, the adults-only Solera curates inventive beverages in a poolside location.
Marine Memories
The resort offers world-class aquatic experiences like glass-clear kayaks, solar-powered catamarans, wake-boarding, and e-surfing. Its house reef is a thriving ecosystem teeming with fish, coral, turtles, and more. Venture out at night for snorkelling when bio luminescent wonders shine bright.
The resort offers PADI-certified dive programmes that cater to every level—from children’s Bubble Maker sessions to Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver courses. At the heart of each experience is ecological responsibility and a deep respect for biodiversity.
On land, the Spa at Shebara, designed by the Rockwell Group, aids relaxation. Complete with earthy tones and curvilinear forms, it offers treatments by luxury wellness houses AMRA and DR Burgener. Ingredients range from Tahitian black pearl to green caviar and meteorite dust; while the facilities include five indoor treatment rooms, outdoor cabanas, a vitality pool, Jacuzzis, and steam and sauna zones. A 24-hour gym, along with personal trainers, complete the wellness offerings.
Rates begin at SAR 9,000 (approximately INR 2,06,300) per night, exclusive of applicable taxes.
