Raffles The Red Sea Opens on Saudi Arabia’s Shura Island With 168 Keys

October 16, 2026 — Raffles has opened its first resort on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, a 168-key island hideaway on Shura Island where every room comes with the brand’s signature butler service. Some restaurants and the spa will open in later phases.

What is happening

Raffles The Red Sea has made its debut on the northwestern shore of Shura Island, in Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province, sitting between a lagoon and the open sea. The resort is part of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, an Accor brand, and its buildings belong to the Foster + Partners “Coral Bloom” masterplan for the island. The opening was announced in a release dated October 14 and published by Hospitality Net on October 15. No exact first-guest date was given.

Raffles describes the resort as “designed around a close relationship with the water.” The island runs entirely on renewable energy, and guests arrive by electric vehicle across a 3.3 km causeway from Red Sea International Airport.

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Features

• Raffles Butler Service in every room, suite and villa; guestrooms have private terraces facing the lagoon or the sea.
• Five dining venues planned: Ni’ma, Siparaja, El Nay, Anbara and a Pool Bar, rolling out in phases.
• Planned spa with seven treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna and steam rooms, a vitality pool and an outdoor lap pool.
• A Raffles Curator runs cultural programming from a dedicated Curator’s Room.
• Island activities include the 18-hole Shura Links golf course, a marina, WAMA water sports and Galaxea diving.

What it means for airline travelers

• Getting there: Red Sea International Airport (RSI) handles about 20 domestic and international flights a week, linking the destination with Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Doha and Milan, according to Gulf Business.
• New Gulf link: Etihad started Abu Dhabi–RSI service on October 4 with one weekly A320 flight on Sundays, adding a Thursday flight from October 25. With only one or two flights a week on that route, plan your outbound and return days around the schedule, and have a backup plan via Riyadh or Jeddah if you are on standby.
• Phased opening: The spa, the adults’ pool and several restaurants are not open yet. If those matter to you, wait for the hotel to confirm they are running before you book.
• Rates: The announcement does not mention travel-industry or airline-employee rates.

Sources

• Hospitality Net — Raffles Hotels & Resorts Reveals a New Island Sanctuary on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea
• Travel PR News — Raffles The Red Sea Opens on Shura Island With Private Villas and Personalised Island Stays
• Gulf Business — Etihad to launch Abu Dhabi–Red Sea flights from October