There’s a fresh kind of luxury emerging on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast and it begins on Shura Island. The Red Sea EDITION, the island’s first hotel, opened its doors on October 12 and instantly set a new tone for modern desert-island escapes.

Inspired by the surrounding coral reefs, the hotel blends natural beauty with EDITION’s signature cool. Low buildings stretch along the shoreline, courtyards open to endless light, and coral-inspired textures appear in every detail. It’s calm and contemporary, yet full of energy and the balance that makes the property feel both indulgent and deeply personal.

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As one of the first guests to check in, my stay felt like a glimpse of what’s to come for this region. Days unfolded between the private beach and the lively lounges, where design meets comfort. Whether soaking up the sun or sipping coffee by the water, everything felt seamless, as if the island itself had been shaped into a retreat.

Set against Shura Island’s pale sands and vivid reefs, The Red Sea EDITION captures the spirit of the new Saudi Arabia: bold, creative, and quietly luxurious. It’s a statement of what the Red Sea destination is becoming.

The Location & Getting There

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Your journey to Shura Island begins at Red Sea International Airport, where flights from Riyadh take just 90 minutes. From the moment you step off the plane, the Red Sea Global experience begins. Staff confirm your reservation on arrival before you’re whisked to the island in a LUCID or Mercedes-Benz electric car. Private fuel vehicles are not permitted as part of the destination’s sustainability-first ethos.

Once on the island, golf carts glide quietly between suites, beaches, and the Shura Links golf course, making every movement feel seamless.

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At the Arrival Pavilion, the design draws on Saudi Arabia’s canyon landscapes, blending rammed earth, oak, and stone in warm, sunlit layers. A suspended ceramic chandelier anchors the space. Check-in unfolds like a calm ritual: a citrusy welcome drink, a cool towel, and an elegant bracelet that doubles as your room key. My buggy driver was waiting right outside, ready to whisk me to my suite with no queuing and no fuss.

Situated in the Arrival Pavilion is the EDITION boutique, which feels like a capsule of contemporary Saudi design. Alongside EDITION-branded pieces, Saudi labels such as Not Boring and 1886 bring bold, streetwise energy that perfectly matches the resort’s understated edge.

The Background

Following the Jeddah EDITION’s debut in May 2024, this is the brand’s second opening in Saudi Arabia and its first on Shura Island. Designed by Foster + Partners with interiors by Rockwell Group, the property channels the colours and textures of the Red Sea itself.

Every surface reflects nature from coral-stone floors, and locally sourced wood and textiles to rope details from Yanbu. The effect is one of quiet sophistication - a signature EDITION balance between urban minimalism and coastal ease. Opened on October 12, it marks a new chapter of design-led, conscious luxury along the Red Sea.

The Guests & Ambiance

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The EDITION crowd is effortlessly cosmopolitan: travellers who seek calm as much as connection. The lobby hums with low conversation over mocktails, while private terraces and secluded dining spaces offer intimacy. The atmosphere is low-key, luxurious, and deeply personal.

The Rooms & Suites

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I checked into a Red Sea Suite, a spacious 85sqm sanctuary with a partial sea view and private terrace. Inside, a king bed wrapped in a cloud-like duvet, soundproof floor-to-ceiling windows, and a serene palette of sand and stone. The suite’s living area features two plush couches, a dining table that doubles as a workspace, and a minibar stocked with premium treats.

The bathroom is pure EDITION indulgence: a deep soaking tub with Edition salt baths, separate shower, and signature EDITION toiletries in full-size bottles. Evening turndown added thoughtful touches like a soft robe waiting, lights dimmed just right.

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There are seven room categories to choose from, ranging from the Deluxe Guest Room with partial sea views to the Fan Coral Cluster, where private pools and terraces make it ideal for families and groups.

The Dining

Dining here is as much about mood as it is about flavour.

Central, inspired by New York’s Grand Central, delivers EDITION’s global-cool approach to comfort food. Think avocado toast and shakshuka for breakfast, Alabama fried chicken and seafood pizza for lunch or dinner. The open kitchen and bakery fill the space with energy and the communal tables invite conversation between bites.

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At The Lobby, the rhythm shifts with the day and morning coffees give way to playful mocktails by evening. I loved pausing here between swims, laptop open, snack in hand, as the space buzzed with new arrivals and soft music. There’s even a pool table if you feel social.

For something more atmospheric, Jiwa Beach Club brings a touch of Bali to the Red Sea. Expect open-air dining, live DJs, and fire shows under the stars. The Balinese tiramisu is a must-try. Jiwa Terrace offers a calmer scene with shaded cabanas, panoramic pool views, and sunset cocktails set to a mellow soundtrack.

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Later this month, Jiwa launches its first weekend brunch, promising live grill stations, DJs, and the sort of easy-luxe energy that defines EDITION’s global appeal.

Wellness and Spa

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The Spa at The Red Sea EDITION is the resort’s heartbeat. It’s a calm, white-and-oak cocoon that feels worlds away from everything. Inside, five treatment rooms (including one for couples) sit alongside saunas, steam rooms, and contrast plunge pools.

The Recovery Dome combines infrared saunas, bio saunas, and lymphatic showers in holistic zone designed for full body reset. My 60-minute Himalayan Salt Stone Massage (SAR 850) used mineral-rich stones to melt away fatigue, leaving me refreshed enough to float out to the relaxation lounge for herbal tea.

The Spa also features a salon and nail lounge, offering blowouts, beard shaping, and scalp treatments. And it offers some of the Kingdom’s most ultra-indulgent treatments including several that use Omorovicza’s Blue Diamond line, including the Concentrate, Supercream and Eye Cream.

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Activities

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Beyond the beach, there’s plenty to do. WAMA, Red Sea Global’s watersports brand, offers everything from kayaking and paddleboarding to kitesurfing and sailing. My sunrise kayak session was pure magic in soft gold light, calm waters, and silence except for the paddle strokes.

On land, there are tennis and padel courts, a gym with an outdoor training zone, and access to the Shura Links 18-hole championship course. Every experience here is designed to bring guests closer to the island’s natural rhythms.

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The Staff

Service is EDITION through and through - attentive without being intrusive. Staff anticipate what you need before you ask, whether it’s a chilled towel after kayaking or your favourite mocktail waiting in the lobby at dusk.

Sustainability

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Like the rest of the Red Sea development, The Red Sea EDITION runs entirely on solar power and is completely off-grid. Construction used locally sourced, low-impact materials, and the resort follows regenerative tourism principles to protect surrounding coral reefs and mangroves. Every aspect of its operation, from water recycling to waste-to-energy systems, is designed to give more back to nature than it takes.

The Verdict

If you’re wondering how to describe it to a friend: it’s the kind of place that quietly rewires your idea of a resort. Days move between sunrise kayaking and Balinese fire shows, mornings in the Recovery Dome and slow afternoons on the terrace. The Red Sea EDITION captures that elusive balance of being social yet serene, indulgent yet grounded and turns it into an experience you’ll carry long after you’ve left the island.

The Red Sea EDITION, Shura Island, Hanak, Red Sea 48313, Saudi Arabia
Prices start from SAR1852 per night

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