The question isn’t “is it beautiful?” It’s the Red Sea, of course it is. The question is whether it’s worth burning your annual leave. SLS The Red Sea, newly opened on Shura Island in February 2026, is making a strong case with design, food, and wellness.
Right after checking in, guests walk through landscaped pathways towards Shura Island’s “Coral Bloom” architecture by Foster + Partners. The overall aesthetic is clean and minimal, but SLS can’t resist dotting the resort with playful elements, such as the brand’s mascot – the duck. If you know the brand, you know the duck, it’s most recognisable from SLS South Beach in Miami. Here, it’s reworked as an art installation by Saudi contemporary artist Heba Ismail.
As for the stay, the resort has 150 guestrooms, spanning 117 rooms, 18 suites and 15 private villas. Rooms come with Ortigia Ambra Nera amenities. If you’re travelling with family, or you simply enjoy more space, the villas are the upgrade to opt for, with beachfront settings, private pools, terraces, and living and dining space.
Food is a big part of the stay, with plenty of options. Floating World serves Japanese cuisine, with the miso-glazed black cod being a must-try, plus a Japanese tea ritual if you want the full experience. Seabird, the London favourite, makes its Saudi debut here with Spanish and Portuguese coastal flavours. Go for the octopus roll and the baked salt fish with smoked honey butter and mojo verde. Fi’lia serves Italian comfort cuisine. For the casual stop, The Perch is the poolside beach bar for juices, mocktails and slushies, with a DJ keeping the background lively.
If you’re the type who likes to return from a trip not just feeling but also looking refreshed, the Ciel Spa offers hydrotherapy, advanced beauty tech, and treatments including Platinum HydraFacial and LED light therapy.
For those who want to keep up with their fitness goals during their break, there’s yoga and padel, plus complimentary snorkelling and paddleboarding gear. If you want to push it further, you’ve got Seabob, e-foil and e-surf.
Shura Island is the main hub of The Red Sea destination being developed by Red Sea Global, and getting there is pretty manageable. The destination has its own Red Sea International Airport (RSI), with regular flights currently connecting from Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Milan and Dubai, with more routes expected to launch.