Travel & Stay

The List Awards 2026: The Official Shortlist Nominees

The List Awards are a new benchmark for luxury and excellence across Saudi Arabia and beyond. Presenting the official shortlist: a curated list of nominees spanning the pinnacle of global air travel, standout stays, gastronomic excellence, and transformative wellness

BY /
12 February 26
The List Awards 2026: The Official Shortlist Nominees
Presenting the official shortlist: a curated list of nominees of the inaugural List Awards

List, the region’s leading voice in luxury travel and lifestyle, has announced the launch of The List Awards, presented with Richard Mille. The List Awards are a first-of-its-kind recognition celebrating the definitive standard of excellence across travel, wellness, culture, and fine dining in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC.

Winners will be officially announced in the Winter 2026 edition of List magazine and across its social and digital platforms. The List Awards will define what world-class excellence looks and feels like in a new era for Saudi hospitality, creativity, and experience-driven living. The awards honour an unparalleled selection, from Michelin-worthy establishments and transformative wellness retreats to boundary-pushing hotels, air travel, and cultural experiences that define modern luxury in the region.

There are no submissions, no paid placements, and no public voting. Each experience featured has been personally lived and evaluated by List’s editorial team and a panel of independent judges. Every venue, brand, and experience included has been explored, debated, and verified against key criteria: originality, precision, consistency, and relevance to the modern Saudi traveller. The result is a benchmark that captures excellence from the ground up.

Speaking about the launch, Nóirín Hegarty, List’s editor-in-chief, said: “Saudi Arabia is in the midst of an extraordinary cultural and creative transformation. The List Awards were born from a desire to recognise that energy and define what excellence truly looks like today. These awards are not about prestige for its own sake – they are about experience, authenticity, and intent. Every name on the list earned its place because it represents the best of the best and the future of luxury in the region and beyond.”

Best in Air Travel Experiences

Best in First Class Experience 

Best in Business Class Experience

Best in Airport Lounge Experience

  • Saudia Alfursan Lounge International at King Khalid International Airport
  • Emirates First Class Lounge, Dubai International Concourse A
  • Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa, Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport
  • Saudia First Class Lounge, King Abdulaziz International Airport
  • Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge, Hamad International Airport
  • Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge, Hamad International Airport
  • Oman Air First & Business Class Lounge, Muscat International Airport

Best in Luxury Wellness & Spas

  • The Spa at Desert Rock, Saudi Arabia
  • Six Senses Spa at Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
  • Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Qatar
  • Neyrah Spa at Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia
  • The St. Regis Spa at The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, Saudi Arabia
  • Banyan Tree Spa at Banyan Tree AlUla, Saudi Arabia
  • Thuraya Wellness at Our Habitas AlUla, Saudi Arabia
  • The Ritz-Carlton Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • AWAKEN at Atlantis The Royal, UAE
  • Anantara Spa at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Oman
  • The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Saudi Arabia
  • Dior Spa The Lana at The Lana, Dorchester Collection, UAE

Best in Stays

Best in Luxury Resorts & Island Retreats

Best in Urban Luxury Hotels

Best in Fine Dining 


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