Six Senses Signs First Hotel in Saudi Arabia

(28 Oct 2021) Six Senses has signed a deal to expand its portfolio of highly respected resorts to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea is one of two inland locations that together with coastal and marine initiatives from The Red Sea Project that spans 10,800 square miles (28,000 square kilometers) on Saudi Arabia’s west coast.

The 76-key resort is scheduled to open during the first phase of The Red Sea Project's development, which is well underway and on track to be completed by the end of 2023.

Transfers from the new Red Sea International Airport will take guests southeast along the coastal highway before turning east inland through desert mountains and narrow wadis.

This property is being realized in collaboration with the British architectural firm, Foster + Partners.

“The mission of early travelers was to trade, document, observe and see things in a new way,” says Six Senses Chief Executive Officer, Neil Jacobs. “Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea is an invitation to explore a region that is undiscovered and untrodden. Our job here is to tread very lightly. This has been a unique opportunity to see how we can bring to life wellness and sustainability – two great values of Six Senses – in an exciting new destination that is opening to a wider global audience. It is going to receive a huge amount of interest so we’re making sure we’re working with very talented people, who are in tune with creating beautiful structures that are healthy and sustainable, to deliver this vision to our guests.”

The resort will feature a reception, lobby lounge, boutique, meeting spaces and prayer rooms, plus a community lounge and Earth Lab.

There will also be an Artisan Village with four pods to tell the story of the region’s history and cultural heritage through arts and crafts, dance and music.

The all-day dining restaurant is complemented by a chef’s table and cooking school, along with a juice bar, brew bar, and water bar.

Guest rooms will have an open-plan bedroom and living area, as well as an outdoor terrace, while clusters of villas occupy strategic peaks and range in size from one to four bedrooms.

The spa, always a highlight at any Six Senses property, will feature self-shaded water surfaces and deep cold pools creating a contrast to the hot climate. Highlights will include a Holistic Anti-Aging Center, male and female grooming centers, and indoor zones with wet facilities, sensory suite, outdoor treatment cabanas with a relaxation area, and a pool bar.

“With its world-leading approach to sustainability and wellness, and of course, famed for providing ultimate luxury, Six Senses mirrors our development's ethos. The Red Sea Project is set to deliver a new type of barefoot luxury experience, underpinned by a commitment to regenerative tourism development. We are proud to be partnering with a brand that is renowned for its high level of hospitality and uncompromising commitment to protecting the environment. We look forward to leading the way together in setting new standards for the industry,” said John Pagano, Chief Executive Officer of The Red Sea Development Company.