Raffles Announces Red Sea Resort With Private Pool Villas on Shura Island
The Shura Island property pairs private pool villas and butler service with a phased rollout of dining, spa, and family amenities.
Photo: Courtesy of Accor
Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced the debut of Raffles The Red Sea, bringing its signature butler service and a collection of private pool villas to Saudi Arabia’s Shura Island. The resort will launch in phases, with several dining venues, wellness facilities, and children’s amenities to follow.
Set between a lagoon and the open sea on the island’s northwestern shores, the property comprises 121 guestrooms, 14 suites, and 33 private pool villas. Guestrooms have private terraces overlooking the lagoon or sea, while suites offer expansive indoor-outdoor living areas. Butler service is included across all accommodation categories, giving couples, families, and multigenerational groups the same access to personalized assistance.
The resort forms part of Foster + Partners’ Coral Bloom masterplan for Shura Island. Its interiors feature coastal colors and layered textures, with terraces, gardens, and pathways connecting the buildings to the waterfront.
Five planned restaurants and lounges draw on Eastern Mediterranean, Asian, and Arabian culinary traditions. Ni’ma will serve dishes designed for sharing throughout the day, while Siparaja draws on Singapore’s food culture, a nod to Raffles’ origins. El Nay will offer Pan-Arabic mezze, Saudi tea, coffee, and shisha; Anbara will give afternoon tea a regional interpretation. A pool bar rounds out the lineup. Dining venues will open in stages, with specialty restaurants and the bar arriving later.
The future Raffles Spa & Wellness will feature seven treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna and steam facilities, a vitality pool, and an outdoor lap pool. The adults’ pool and dedicated children’s and teens’ centers are also scheduled for later phases. Available activities include the gym, padel, and island water sports.
A dedicated Raffles Curator will lead programming involving local art, literature, storytelling, and craftsmanship. Beyond the resort, guests can access Shura Links, Saudi Arabia’s first 18-hole island golf course, along with diving, marine discovery, the island’s marina, and dining and retail offerings.
Shura Island runs entirely on renewable energy and is reached from Red Sea International Airport by electric vehicle via a 2-mile crossing.
