Shebara Resort - Saudi Arabia's Sci-Fi Sanctuary on the Red Sea

Imagine stepping into a mirrored orb that hovers above turquoise waters, where your villa reflects the sky so perfectly it nearly vanishes into the horizon. This isn't a fever dream – it's Shebara Resort, Saudi Arabia's latest audacious leap into luxury tourism.

Opened in November 2024 on Sheybarah Island, this 73-villa property features stainless-steel pods designed by Killa Design (the architects behind Dubai's Museum of the Future) that look like they've been beamed down from another dimension. Entirely solar-powered and surrounded by some of the Red Sea's healthiest coral reefs, Shebara manages to be both spectacularly futuristic and surprisingly grounded in nature.

Whether you're watching baby sharks glide beneath your overwater villa or getting a massage infused with actual meteorite dust, this place pushes the boundaries of what a beach resort can be.

Getting to Sheybarah Island

Sheybarah Island sits 25 kilometers offshore from mainland Saudi Arabia, positioned between the towns of Umluj and Al-Wajh in Tabuk Province. The island is part of a 92-island archipelago within Al Wajh lagoon, a pristine area spanning over 2,000 square kilometers that includes thriving coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves.

Your journey begins at Red Sea International Airport, located about 500 kilometers north of Jeddah. From there, you have two options: a 30-minute seaplane flight that delivers you directly to the resort, or a more leisurely route involving a 30-minute electric vehicle ride to Turtle Bay Hotel Arrival Lounge, followed by a 30 to 40-minute boat journey across crystal-clear waters. The seaplane option offers aerial views of the shimmering orbs long before you land, while the boat ride lets you watch the mirrored villas gradually materialize on the horizon.

The Shebara Story

Until recently, Sheybarah Island was little more than a weekend picnic spot for locals – an uninhabited stretch of sand dunes, date palms, and mangroves that had remained untouched for centuries. That changed in 2017 when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced plans to develop Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast as part of Vision 2030, the kingdom's ambitious push to diversify beyond oil into tourism and entertainment.

Rather than hand the project to an international hotel chain, developer Red Sea Global decided to create its own brand. They commissioned Killa Design to dream up something extraordinary, and the architects delivered: 73 polished stainless-steel orbs that were custom-built in the UAE and shipped to Saudi Arabia.

The pods were designed to evoke a string of pearls from above, with each sphere reflecting its surroundings so completely that they seem to dissolve into the landscape. Construction was completed offshore to minimize environmental impact, with each villa arriving as a plug-and-play unit connected to the resort's solar-powered infrastructure.

The Welcome

Arriving at Shebara feels deliberately theatrical. The main jetty extends from the resort's circular layout, and as you approach, those otherworldly orbs catch the sunlight in kaleidoscopic flashes. Depending on your angle, they either gleam like alien spacecraft or vanish entirely, leaving only reflections of sand, sea, and sky.

Red Sea Global's hospitality team – a mix of enthusiastic Saudi graduates from nearby communities and seasoned veterans from five-star properties in the Maldives, Dubai, and Doha – greet you with genuine warmth rooted in hafawa, the Saudi tradition of generous, heartfelt hospitality.

Iki.roe

The resort's most upscale dining option serves modern Japanese-Nikkei cuisine – a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors that works better than it sounds. The space features contemporary glass interiors that channel clean-lined bamboo groves, with an interactive open kitchen where chefs prepare omakase menus and signature dishes like miso black cod marinated to tender perfection.

Robata-grilled selections deliver rich, smoky flavors whether you order meat, seafood, or vegetables, while the Nikkei ceviche brings a refreshing blend of both culinary traditions. Sushi and sashimi are crafted with traditional techniques, and the beverage program features handcrafted non-alcoholic elixirs inspired by Japanese and Peruvian ingredients.

Lunara

This sophisticated international brasserie serves breakfast daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, mixing small-batch buffet staples with well-executed regional favorites like shakshuka and falafel. The standout is the vanilla-dipped brioche French toast, sprinkled with cinnamon and jewel-like pomegranate seeds.

Lunara reopens for dinner Sunday through Wednesday, switching to a Levantine menu. The space combines chic design with global flavors in a setting that manages to feel both refined and approachable, with spectacular ocean views framing every meal.

Solera

Perched above the adults-only pool at the resort's southern end, Solera steals the show at lunchtime with its eco-conscious menu of zingy, Asian-inspired dishes – crunchy rice, tacos, and sandwiches packed with marinated tofu or meat.

Open from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM, this cutting-edge bar blends the tranquility of the sea with dynamic lighting and curated soundscapes. The beverage program focuses on innovative non-alcoholic drinks inspired by nature, featuring Lyre's spirits and refreshing mocktails.

Light meals are served from noon to 5:00 PM, with ingredients sourced from the local Red Sea and desert. The wind-whipped setting and contemporary vibe make it the resort's liveliest daytime gathering spot.

The Overwater Villas

Suspended above the Red Sea's shallows and connected by wide boardwalks, the 38 overwater villas form that string-of-pearls design that defines Shebara's silhouette. Each polished stainless-steel orb refracts light from the sky and sea, creating an effect so complete that the villas seem to hover weightless above the water. Set back more than 50 meters from the natural coral reef, the supporting columns touch only a few square meters of ground – a light-touch approach that protects the thriving lagoon habitats below.

Step inside and the yacht-like aesthetic becomes immediately clear. Toronto-based Studio Paolo Ferrari designed the interiors using what they call "naturalistic futurism" – a concept that balances forward-looking design with deeply human, tactile materials.

Sand-hued walls are edged with sleek black detailing, while wave-like sofas upholstered in textured linen follow the curved walls. The TV vanishes into a discreet cabinet, and a crimson-and-silver minibar slides open automatically to reveal non-alcoholic spirits.

Each villa contains a monolithic wall-mounted bar cabinet rendered in mirrored steel with automated hydraulic doors that open to reveal an interior lined with red leather – Ferrari calls them "mesmerizing and perplexing things."

The bathroom includes a double shower, double vanity, enclosed toilet and bidet, and a curvy freestanding bathtub that anchors the space.

The outdoor spaces are equally considered. Glass sliding doors pull back at the touch of a button, revealing an infinity pool that melts into the Red Sea beyond (the water temperature can be adjusted on request).

A circular dining table is sunk into the pool, perfect for breakfasts served on floating platters, while a generous crescent-shaped daybed invites long evenings under the stars. The freeform shower space, clad in marble and slotted seamlessly into the curved edge of the orb, features an experience showerhead and color-changing bulbs controlled by remote.

Spanning 288 square meters (189 square meters interior, 99 square meters exterior), these villas sleep four adults, two children, and one infant. The expanded living area includes a pantry, lounge, dining table, bar unit, and guest toilet. The master bedroom contains a king bed, wardrobe, dressing table, double vanity, enclosed toilet and bidet, bathtub, and separate shower.

The second bedroom features two queen beds, wardrobe, and a full bathroom with shower area, toilet and bidet, and bathtub. The outdoor setup mirrors the one-bedroom version but with a larger pool deck, daybed, pool loungers, sunken lounge, and outdoor shower.

The Beach Villas

The resort's 35 beachfront villas use the same orb design but sit on pale sands rather than suspended above water, reflecting their surroundings while providing more expansive outdoor spaces. These pods are tucked among softly sculpted dunes, date palms, and tamarisk trees that have been carefully landscaped for maximum privacy.

While the architectural form matches the overwater villas – same mirrored stainless steel, same ability to nearly disappear into the horizon – the beach setting creates a different energy, grounding you in the island's desert landscape rather than hovering above the sea.

At 248 square meters (103 square meters interior, 145 square meters exterior), these villas offer significantly more outdoor space than their overwater counterparts while maintaining the same interior layout and capacity: two adults, one child, and one infant. The living area includes a dining table, lounge seating, bar unit, and pantry.

The bedroom contains a king bed, wardrobe, dressing table, double shower, double vanity, enclosed toilet and bidet, and bathtub. The expanded exterior features an infinity pool, terrace, double daybed, sunken lounge, and outdoor shower, all overlooking the beach and sea beyond.

The largest standard villa configuration spans 367 square meters (196 square meters interior, 171 square meters exterior) and accommodates four adults, two children, and one infant. The interior matches the two-bedroom overwater layout. The outdoor space is generous, featuring an infinity pool, pool deck, daybed, pool loungers, sunken lounge, and outdoor shower.

Spa

Hidden among the desert landscape, the spa's raw, earthy stone façade nearly disappears into the terrain. Step inside and you're greeted by a starkly minimalist entrance hall centered around a 2,700-year-old olive tree, its gnarled branches stretching through an open skylight. The facility, designed by Rockwell Group to incorporate earth tones and materials that convey grounding, operates from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Treatments draw inspiration from the power of the sea using products from British brand Amra and Swiss skincare expert Dr. Burgener. The signature Shebara Journey takes two hours and incorporates ingredients like Tahitian black pearl, platinum, and green caviar, beginning with a pearl cleanse, moving through caviar exfoliation, and culminating with bespoke treatment oils and sculpting body cream.

The spa includes five indoor treatment rooms (including a couple's suite), three outdoor cabanas for beachfront treatments, and an outdoor vitality pool that bubbles away under the sun. Separate male and female areas house Jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, ice chip stations, and experience showers. An airy relaxation lounge, barber salon, mani-pedi studio, and yoga pavilion round out the facilities, with a retail shop offering the premium products used in treatments.

Gym

Open 24 hours a day, the state-of-the-art fitness center caters to all levels with top-of-the-line Technogym equipment and personal trainers available from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The facility flows seamlessly between indoor and outdoor spaces, featuring a lap pool, jogging track, and dedicated yoga pavilion.

Aerial yoga classes offer a unique, gravity-defying workout that enhances flexibility and core strength, while the yoga pavilion provides a serene setting for more traditional practices.

Kids Club

Designed for children aged four to 12 (though toddlers can join with a parent or guardian), the kids club operates daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The space features clusters of floating white "clouds" overhead and soothing lullabies filling the air, with downsized facilities including child-height toilets stocked with pyramids of fluffy towels.

Activities focus on creativity and exploration through arts and crafts sessions, storytelling, games, and an outdoor splash zone. Private babysitting services are available for an additional fee.

Outdoor Sports

The resort's outdoor sports facilities include both a tennis court and padel tennis court, both open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The courts are located near the gym on the desert island side of the resort, positioned for maximum privacy among the sand dunes and vegetation.

Whether you're a seasoned player or trying padel – the fast-paced racquet sport that's been sweeping the globe – for the first time, the courts provide a welcome active outlet beyond the water sports that dominate the resort's activity menu.