Red Sea Islands Expand Luxury Hotel Capacity in 2026

Luxury hotel capacity on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea islands continues to expand in 2026, with the inauguration of a new resort marking another step toward the destination's Phase One goals. Officials say the development area, spanning 28,000 km² on the west coast between Umluj and Al Wajh in the Tabuk region, is on track to have 16 resorts open by the end of 2026, totaling around 3,000 rooms.

The latest addition is the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea on Shura Island, which opened on 20 May 2026 with 149 rooms, 31 residences and a full-service spa. It joins a growing cluster on the same island that includes The Red Sea EDITION, SLS The Red Sea, InterContinental The Red Sea Resort (opened December 2025) and the adult-only wellness retreat Miraval The Red Sea (opened March 2026).

On Ummahat Island, the St. Regis Red Sea Resort — the destination's first island property, opened April 2024 — offers over-water and beach villas, while Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, opened November 2024. Other operating properties include Shebara Resort, the inland Desert Rock Resort and Six Senses Southern Dunes near Umluj.

The long-term master plan envisions about 50 hotels and 8,000 keys, plus more than 1,000 residences, across 22 islands and 6 inland sites. Around 300,000 guests are expected in 2026, with eight new resorts added this year across The Red Sea and AMAALA.

For now, the destination sits firmly in the ultra-luxury tier. Entry rates at the St. Regis start around SAR 7,000 while rooms at Six Senses Southern Dunes range from about SAR 3,400 to SAR 4,700, and suites from SAR 5,000 to SAR 6,900. Starting prices across open resorts generally begin near SAR 3,400 with no budget or mid-range options yet available.

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