Cover Inside Shebara Resort in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia (Photo: courtesy of Shebara)
Inside Shebara Resort in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia (Photo: courtesy of Shebara)
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Saudi Arabia's new eco-resort on Sheybarah Island is redefining barefoot luxury with its crystalline waters, otherworldly service and a commitment to conservation that rivals the world’s most coveted island escapes
The conversation around luxury travel has shifted. Today’s traveller seeks authenticity paired with purpose. Shebara Resort—situated 500 km north of Jeddah along Saudi Arabia’s protected Red Sea coastline—represents a vision of what barefoot luxury might look like when conservation and design brilliance meet. With its own dedicated international airport, the Red Sea region has become remarkably accessible, yet it retains an air of the undiscovered—a rare commodity in an age of overtourism.
For the discerning traveller seeking untouched beauty without compromising on refinement, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline has emerged as one of the most compelling luxury destinations. Shebara Resort demonstrates what sustainable hospitality can achieve—where nature takes centre stage and every detail speaks to both environmental stewardship and uncompromising taste.
Arrival
Getting to Shebara is half the fun. It involves developers of Red Sea Global’s fleet of electric vehicles—Mercedes-Benz EQS and Lucid Air models, all powered by solar energy from the destination’s own off-grid charging network. From the airport, guests are chauffeured to a beach resort to lounge before transferring to a boat for the roughly 30-minute journey to the resort. (Naturally, you can also travel by seaplane from the airport directly to the property.)
Shebara has 73 villas in total—38 perched over the water and 35 along the beach. The overwater ones are the showstoppers, designed by Killa Design, the firm behind Dubai’s Museum of the Future. They’re made of stainless steel, which reflects the sky and sea, creating the illusion that they’re floating. Up close, they look like enormous chrome bubbles, all connected by walkways. Each comes with a private heated cool. The beachfront villas take a different approach—closer to the ground, inspired by desert dunes, tucked into the landscape rather than hovering above it. These come with direct beach access. It’s the sort of set-up where you can roll out of bed and be in the water within 30 seconds—and it’s magnificent.
As for the water: it’s absurdly blue. Fish dart between coral formations, entirely unbothered by human presence. The water is so clear it feels intrusive to even contemplate approaching it—like walking into someone’s sitting room uninvited.
Food
Shebara has five eateries—Lunara, Saria, IkiRoe, Ariamare and Solera, each bringing a different flavour and vibe to the stay.
Breakfast at Lunara is straightforward. Great coffee, healthy food and a view of the sea that makes lingering easy. The sort of meal where you find yourself on a third cup without quite meaning to.
Brunch at Ariamare—helmed by Italian chef Marco Garfagnini, whose first personal venture Ristorante Ninan won a Michelin star in the 90s—is Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on simplicity; you can see this first-hand through the kitchen window as fresh seafood and homemade pasta is prepared. The caviar degustation menu served every evening is particularly indulgent and sets the tone for the vacation ahead.
Alternatively, you can also dine at Saria which offers Levantine meals by the pool with a DJ spinning and children flying kites nearby. Then there’s Ikiroe, the Nikkei restaurant, where Japanese technique meets Peruvian boldness—miso black cod, Nikkei ceviche and robata-grilled selections from a kitchen that could hold its own against Zuma or Nobu.
Finally, adults-only pool bar Solera lingers in memory. Perched to catch the sunset, it focuses on mocktails that don’t taste like punishment for not drinking alcohol. Complex flavours are created using house-made syrups, herbs and bitters. This is a dry destination, but you don’t miss the booze with the non-alcoholic substitutes on offer.
The Fun
The spa is housed in a separate building that’s all clean lines and natural light. The floating meditation session involves lying on a mat in shallow water while a practitioner talks you through breathing exercises, and the water moves gently beneath. It works wonders, and afterwards, the massages available make you forget you have bones.
By afternoon, there are toys to play with: seabobs, electric paddleboards and kayaks. The snorkelling deserves special mention—an Egyptian guide leads the session. The coral is perfect—genuinely untouched—and all types of marine life are visible, including eagle rays, which we’re told are quite rare to see.
A final reflection
The Kingdom’s Red Sea coastline may not yet command the immediate name recognition of the Maldives or the Caribbean, but for those seeking the next frontier in island luxury, it represents one of the world’s most exciting developments. For the traveller who has seen it all and who thinks they know what an island paradise should offer, Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coastline waits with a quiet confidence. The water here truly is that blue; the coral truly is that pristine. And the experience, against all expectations, truly is that extraordinary.
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As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
