A new Raffles property at the heart of Shura Island’s development
Raffles Hotels & Resorts continues its development in Saudi Arabia with the opening of Raffles The Red Sea, situated between a lagoon and the Red Sea on the north-western side of Shura Island.
The property forms part of the Coral Bloom masterplan, designed by Foster + Partners to integrate tourism infrastructure into the island landscape.
Its location contributes to the development of Shura Island as an integrated tourism destination combining luxury hospitality, dining, water-based leisure activities, golf and retail.
For Raffles, the opening represents another milestone in its development across the Kingdom, where the brand intends to strengthen its presence in the ultra-luxury hospitality segment.
Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, emphasises that the opening reflects the ambition to create distinctive hospitality experiences in exceptional destinations, drawing in particular on the personalised service for which the brand is known.
The announcement does not disclose the investment allocated to the property, the asset’s ownership structure or the contractual terms governing its operation.
168 keys, including 33 villas with private pools
Raffles The Red Sea offers 121 guestrooms, 14 suites and 33 villas with private pools, representing a total of 168 accommodation units.
Guestrooms feature private terraces overlooking the lagoon or the Red Sea. Suites offer generous indoor and outdoor living spaces, while the villas cater particularly to families and multigenerational travellers seeking greater privacy.
The architecture and interiors draw inspiration from the coastal landscape through textured materials, natural tones and expansive openings towards the marine environment.
Raffles Butler Service, a longstanding signature of the brand, is available across all accommodation categories.
This positioning combines ultra-luxury hospitality service standards with an accommodation offering that approaches the residential experience, particularly suited to an island destination.
Five dining venues, opening progressively
The resort plans to offer five dining and social concepts drawing on a range of culinary influences.
Ni’ma will serve Eastern Mediterranean cuisine designed around sharing, while Siparaja will celebrate Raffles’ Singaporean roots through a contemporary interpretation of that culinary heritage.
El Nay, located by the sea, will combine pan-Arab mezze, Saudi tea, artisanal coffee and shisha.
Anbara will reinterpret the Raffles afternoon tea ritual through regional flavours and pastries, while the Pool Bar will provide a more relaxed offering aimed particularly at families.
Not all these venues will be operational immediately. The group has confirmed that the speciality restaurants and bar will welcome their first guests during a subsequent phase.
This phased opening is intended to support the gradual ramp-up of both the resort and the wider destination.
The spa and several leisure facilities will open at a later stage
Raffles Spa & Wellness is among the property’s principal planned facilities, although it will open in a subsequent phase.
The wellness programme includes seven treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna, steam facilities, a vitality pool and an outdoor lap pool.
An adults-only swimming pool will also become operational at a later stage.
In the meantime, guests can access selected activities already available, including the fitness centre, padel and watersports.
Facilities dedicated to children and teenagers will likewise open at a later date.
The resort also intends to develop a cultural programme overseen by a Raffles Curator, responsible for offering experiences connected to the region’s art, literature, oral traditions and craftsmanship.
This cultural dimension complements the brand’s positioning, which seeks to connect each property with the identity of its destination.
Charles Saliba leads Raffles and Fairmont The Red Sea
The property is managed by Charles Saliba, Managing Director of both Raffles The Red Sea and Fairmont The Red Sea.
His responsibilities therefore extend across two luxury properties within the same destination, operating under two distinct brands in Accor’s portfolio.
The announcement does not specify whether any operational functions are shared between the two resorts.
Charles Saliba highlights a guest experience combining watersports, wellness, gastronomy and cultural discovery, supported by an individualised approach to service.
The appointment of a common Managing Director for both properties nevertheless provides an interesting insight into Accor’s operational organisation on Shura Island, where the group is developing several complementary brands.
Shura Island: an integrated luxury and leisure destination
The opening of Raffles The Red Sea forms part of the development of Shura Island, a tourism destination designed to bring together several resorts and leisure facilities.
Visitors will have access to Shura Links, described as Saudi Arabia’s first 18-hole island golf course, as well as a marina, Marina Village and its shops and restaurants.
Activities also include watersports provided by WAMA, diving and marine exploration with Galaxea, and land-based experiences organised by Akun.
The island is accessible from Red Sea International Airport by electric vehicle via a 3.3-kilometre connection.
According to the information released, Shura Island is powered entirely by renewable energy.
The development promotes a regenerative tourism approach, with infrastructure designed to preserve the natural characteristics of the island environment. However, the announcement does not provide detailed indicators with which to assess the programme’s actual environmental performance.
An opening that strengthens Accor’s presence on the Red Sea
With Raffles The Red Sea, Accor is consolidating its position in Saudi Arabia’s luxury hospitality market by participating in the creation of new tourism destinations along the Red Sea coast.
The development has several defining characteristics: a property integrated into a tourism masterplan, an accommodation offering with a significant proportion of private villas, and the phased introduction of services and facilities.
For Raffles, the opening extends its development beyond established major urban destinations towards resorts combining privacy, cultural experiences and personalised service.
The operational challenge will now be to manage the property’s gradual ramp-up alongside the introduction of its additional facilities and the growth in visitor numbers to Shura Island.
The opening of Raffles The Red Sea therefore illustrates the development strategy of international luxury hotel brands within Saudi Arabia’s emerging tourism destinations, where hotel infrastructure, leisure facilities and accessibility are being developed in a coordinated manner.
At a Glance
Opening: Raffles The Red Sea debuts on Shura Island, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
Accommodation: 168 keys, comprising 121 guestrooms, 14 suites and 33 private pool villas.
Design: Part of the Coral Bloom masterplan by Foster + Partners.
Dining: Five restaurants and lounges, with selected venues opening in later phases.
Wellness: A seven-treatment-room spa and adults’ pool are scheduled to open subsequently.
Management: Charles Saliba serves as Managing Director of both Raffles The Red Sea and Fairmont The Red Sea.
