Raffles The Red Sea Opens With a More Private Island Stay

Raffles The Red Sea has opened on Shura Island, Red Sea Global announced on October 14. The 168-key resort includes 33 private villas alongside its rooms and suites, giving travelers a choice between a conventional hotel stay and a home-style retreat with a pool of their own.

The opening adds another luxury option to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. For guests weighing the new island resorts, the useful distinction is the accommodation mix: the villa collection sits alongside 121 rooms and 14 suites, rather than replacing the hotel experience entirely.

What makes the villas different from the rooms?

Raffles describes terraces across its rooms, suites and pool villas, with many facing the lagoon or beach. That makes outdoor space part of the basic accommodation proposition. A private pool, however, belongs to a different booking decision and should be confirmed against the exact category you choose.

The one- to four-bedroom residences were designed by Foster + Partners, with interiors by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. Their separate indoor and outdoor living areas offer a practical reason to consider them for a family or friends traveling together: shared space beyond a hotel bedroom.

Where will guests eat and spend their time?

Five dining venues are part of the opening announcement. Ni'ma focuses on the Eastern Mediterranean, while Siparaja draws on Singapore and Peranakan cooking. Anbara handles patisserie, El Nay offers Pan-Arabic bites and refreshments, and the Pool Bar & Grill provides a more casual waterside option.

The resort also lists a spa and wellness sanctuary, with seven indoor treatment rooms, a hammam, a vitality pool and an outdoor lap pool. Shura Links and the island's marina provide other ways to structure a stay beyond the beach.

What should families check before booking?

The hotel's own website still labels its Kids & Teens experience as forthcoming. Families should therefore ask which supervised activities are operating on their dates, particularly if childcare is central to the trip. A resort opening does not automatically confirm every advertised experience is ready.

Likewise, do not assume the room price includes dining, spa appointments or golf. The opening announcement does not establish an all-inclusive plan. Ask for a written breakdown of the selected rate and arrange airport transfers with the hotel before making separate transport commitments.