With a distinctive yet familiar design rising from the desert dunes, Six Senses Southern Dunes is set along the storied Incense Trade Route.
Framed by sweeping golden desert plains and the outline of the rugged Hijaz Mountains, inviting guests to get in touch with nature and themselves in a world where history and serenity converge. Emphasising sustainability, wellness, and cultural authenticity, the resort sets a new benchmark for eco-conscious hospitality in the Middle East.
Akin to other Six Senses resorts, Six Senses Southern Dunes delivers all the comfort of five-star hospitality, but with a thoughtful, homespun touch and barefoot feel. For example, at breakfast, everything on the buffet, from the homemade nut milks and jams to the cheeses and breads, is labeled with a handwritten card. It is this simple gesture that reflects the care and human-touch behind it all.
Nothing here feels overproduced or impersonal: luxury here is present, but it’s relaxed, unfussy, and quietly done right.
In Short: There is a quiet confidence to Six Senses Southern Dunes. It does not try to dazzle with excess. Instead, it invites you to breathe, to listen, and to return to yourself.
The Location
Though it feels far removed from daily life, getting there is surprisingly easy. The resort is a 50-minute drive from the new Red Sea International Airport, with regular flights from Jeddah (under an hour) and Riyadh (just over 90 minutes).
Almost hidden among the sweeping sand dunes of the Alnesai desert, Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea is a place where time softens, the rhythm slows, and the outside world begins to quiet.
At its centre is the Oasis, rising unexpectedly from the desert. This open-air hub is filled with lush greenery, tall trees, and winding paths, with the sound of birds carrying through the air. A wide canopy – shaped after the desert rose – stretches overhead, pulling the space together. It feels less like a hotel and more like a mirage made real: calm, grounded, and closely connected to its surroundings.
While the Red Sea is not directly beside the resort, it’s near enough to glimpse on clear days. Thanks to the property’s elevated location, the climate remains surprisingly pleasant year-round, with soft breezes even in the warmer months.
The Background
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, officially opened its doors on November 2, 2023, as one of the flagship resorts in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Red Sea Global tourism initiative. The resort was first announced in early 2021, with construction beginning shortly thereafter as part of the development’s first phase. Its launch marked a significant step in the country’s efforts to position itself as a luxury eco-tourism destination, blending high-end hospitality with cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.
The resort was designed by Foster + Partners, a globally acclaimed British architectural firm known for its innovative and sustainable designs. Their vision for Six Senses Southern Dunes centred around creating a built environment that would harmonise with the surrounding desert landscape. At the heart of the resort is the Oasis, a striking self-shading structure inspired by the geometry of desert flowers. This central hub houses key communal spaces such as the reception, Earth Lab, and Artisan Village, and serves as a symbolic and functional anchor for the entire property.
The inspiration behind the resort’s inspired design stems from the Nabataean civilisation and the ancient Incense Trade Route, which once passed through this region. These historical references are woven into the architecture, landscaping, and guest experiences, offering a rich cultural narrative that complements the natural beauty of the site.
Even the resort’s layout mirrors the flowing contours of the desert, with villas and pathways thoughtfully designed to blend into the sand dunes and reflect the natural forms of the surrounding Hijaz Mountains.
The Guests & Ambiance
From the very beginning, the welcome to the resort feels deeply personal.
Guests are invited to engage the senses through sound: playing a set of drums, each representing sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, and the sixth sense: intuition. It’s a small but symbolic gesture that sets the tone for what’s to come. From there, you’re led to the Gelato Pod, where freshly churned flavours like Arabic coffee and date are available throughout your stay – complimentary, and deeply satisfying in the Saudi heat.
Welcoming all types of guests, from couples seeking a serene retreat from a busy city life and those interested in learning more about sustainable luxury and wellness experiences: the resort is ideal for families, groups of friends seeking wellness or desert adventure, or couples looking to reconnect.
Each morning, a blackboard displays a schedule of complimentary communal activities – from yoga and breath-work to up-cycling workshops such as soap making, and fitness classes such as indoor cycling. Some offerings, such as plant-based cooking classes, carry an extra fee but remain central to the experience. For the ultimate desert experience, guests can enjoy a private barbecue dinner amid the dunes, followed by a stargazing journey where the constellations become a canvas for stories of ancient Arab civilisations.
The Rooms
The resort’s rooms and villas are arranged like a quiet village surrounding the central Oasis. Every space draws inspiration from the dunes: soft curves, sandy hues, and interiors accented by textures and patterns from traditional Bedouin dress. There are 36 guest rooms and 40 villas in total, each with serene desert views, private terraces, and quiet corners to reflect, read, or simply unwind.
The one- to four-bedroom villas include temperature-controlled pools and spacious lounge areas, ideal for friends or families traveling together. Even the smallest Wadi Rooms feel calm and expansive, with warm light filtering through and outdoor daybeds gazing toward the open desert.
The Dining
The sense of care continues into the dining experiences at Six Senses Southern Dunes.
Guided by the resort’s Eat With Six Senses philosophy, each dish balances wellness and flavour using seasonal, nourishing, and sustainably sourced ingredients. You won’t find avocado here – it isn’t local and requires too much water to grow responsibly. Nor will you see caviar on the menu, as it doesn't meet the resort’s ethical sourcing standards.
Every Thursday at sunset, guests are invited to gather by the pool for a welcome drink, soft live oud music, a quick hello from the team, and a look at the week’s activity schedule.
At Bariya, the all-day dining venue, breakfast features a made-to-order egg station, homemade nut butters and jams, and daily changing specials. Merkaz, located in the heart of the Oasis, offers a fully plant-based and gluten-free menu, with mocktails crafted from house-brewed kombucha infused with garden herbs, fruit purées, and house-made syrups. Nearby, the Pool Bar & Grill offers fresh, laid-back fare in a breezy outdoor setting – think crisp salads, ceviche, seafood skewers, and wood-fired pizzas, all prepared with a focus on flavour and simplicity.
Finally, Al Sarab, perched at the resort’s highest point, offers a refined take on bold Middle Eastern flavours, served against a backdrop of sweeping dunes and stunning sunset views.
Wellness & Spa
The resort’s spa is a sanctuary in every sense. Spanning nearly 4,000 square meters, it’s one of the most thoughtfully designed wellness spaces in the region.
Each treatment room is named after a local healing herb, a gentle nod to the land’s ancient traditions. Therapies draw on locally sourced ingredients like frankincense and moringa, blending time-honoured rituals with modern wellness science. The well-appointed spa facilities include an infrared salt sauna and Finnish steam room, cold plunge pools, a sensory meditation dome, a biohacking suite, aerial yoga studios, and a fully equipped gym.
Guests can also take part in yoga and meditation sessions, cycling classes, or book personal training for a more tailored approach to wellness.
Beyond the spa, a sense of adventure beckons. The resort partners with Akun, an experience-driven sports brand offering activities such as sand-boarding, stargazing, e-quad biking, hiking, archery, and desert exploration.
Throughout the year, the hotel introduces curated retreats, like the “Shape Your Wellness Journey” program – an immersive multi-day experience that includes a wellness screening, cooking classes, detox rituals, and time for rest and restoration. Guests can also choose shorter treatments such as the “Exclusive Dunes Wellness Experience” or the “Oasis Spa Retreat,” both offering carefully crafted paths toward inner balance.
The Staff
The staff at Six Senses Southern Dunes embody the brand’s ethos of intuitive service and deep connection to place. Many team members are locally based or know the region very well, offering guests authentic insights into the region’s culture and traditions. Service is warm, discreet, and highly personalised, with staff anticipating needs before they’re voiced. From wellness experts to culinary artisans, each member brings a sense of purpose and passion to their role. Together, they create an atmosphere that feels both elevated and grounded, luxury with a human touch.
Sustainability & Accessibility
Sustainability is not treated as a trend here, it is a deeply held value that runs through every aspect of the property. The resort is entirely solar powered, committed to a zero-waste philosophy, and avoids single-use plastic altogether. Food waste is composted on-site and used to nourish the herbs and plants grown for the kitchen. Even the plant milks served at breakfast are made in-house, with the leftover pulp turned into homemade protein powder used in smoothies at the breakfast bar.
At the heart of the resort’s sustainability ethos are two signature Six Senses spaces: the Earth Lab and the Alchemy Bar. Both are dedicated to showcasing zero-waste living in thoughtful, hands-on ways. At the Earth Lab, guests can explore creative reuse through experiences like turning the resort’s used cooking oil into handmade soap, while the Alchemy Bar transforms everyday ingredients, like spent coffee grounds, into exfoliating body scrubs and personalised wellness blends. These interactive spaces invite guests to reimagine waste as a resource, blending environmental purpose with playful, sensory discovery, all within a framework of luxury wellness.
Embedded in the DNA of the Six Senses brand, the Six Senses Southern Dunes also supports the local community through its sustainability fund, which allocates 0.5% of all revenues to environmental or social initiatives. In Umluj, this has taken the form of educational programs in local schools about waste sorting and the donation of recycling bins. This year, the resort is working with local Umluj farmers to help improve access to clean water.
Six Senses Southern Dunes,
The Red Sea Development, Umluj 48321, Saudi Arabia
Prices starting from SAR 2600 per night for Wadi Suites, and from SAR 5500 for One-Bedroom Pool Villas
Book your stay here
@sixsensessoutherndunes
