Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve made waves with its May 2024 debut. It’s the Middle East’s first Reserve property and is a significant addition to Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Red Sea regenerative tourism initiative. The private island resort’s striking seashell-inspired villas, unspoiled natural surroundings and thoughtful embrace of Saudi culture quickly garnered acclaim, including Forbes Travel Guide’s prestigious Best Opening of 2024 award.
The award is part of FTG’s annual Star Awards, which was announced last month. In choosing the hotel, an executive editorial committee narrowed down five finalists, which included Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London; The Singapore EDITION; The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel; and Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island. Readers and followers then picked the winner through an online survey. This marks the second year of the award — Atlantis The Royal won it for the Dubai hotel’s 2023 debut.
“From the beginning, we tried to create something extraordinary with Nujuma,” says Tony Coveney, general manager of the property. “As a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the goal was to create a truly unique and one-off experience. While underpinned by The Ritz-Carlton service values, this would be a place that is transformative, pure, rare and immersive. As such, yes, this is a stunning resort with all the luxury facilities one might expect of a Five-Star environment. But it is also a ‘Reserve,’ a place where guests can completely disengage with the world outside and reengage with nature and a cultural experience.”
Design
Floating amid the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef, this all-villa hotel feels secluded, but it’s not far from Riyadh (a 1.5-hour flight) and Jeddah (about an hour-long flight). Foster + Partners took inspiration for the architecture from the surrounding seascape. The 63 spherical villas resemble seashells, and those hovering over the water form a ring, a striking visual signature for the hotel.
Inside each, you’ll find natural materials, a color palette of sea and sand, and geometric patterns echoing classic regional designs. Traditional ceramics, woven Saudi rugs and elaborate wall hangings ground your experience in a sense of place. Each comes with a large living room, kitchen, deck, pool and telescope — stargazing is a nod to the property’s celestial namesake, since Nujuma comes from the Arabic word najoom, meaning “the stars.” There’s even an on-staff astronomer who leads nightly sessions under the remarkably clear skies.
Amenities and Activities
There’s much to do under those stars. When you aren’t dining at noted chef Lucas Julien-Vauzelle’s four restaurants (there’s a starry bar serving celestial-themed mocktails, too) or retreating to the tranquility of Neyrah Spa (which offers a hammam, vitality and lap pools, five water-facing treatment rooms and three outdoor treatment cabins), you can learn about Saudi Arabia’s wildlife and ecosystems with the resident naturalist; take classes about the country’s history, art and traditions with the on-staff Saudi culture expert; gather for beach bonfires; and enhance your wellbeing with yoga, Pilates, meditation and other sessions. All these activities are included with your stay.
Marine enthusiasts can visit the fully equipped dive center to explore the vibrant underwater world. Snorkel or scuba dive along the pristine reef to encounter 165 endemic fish species, playful dolphins, graceful hawksbill turtles and majestic stingrays. For those preferring to stay above the surface, the resort offers kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and catamarans.
Sustainability
Solar-powered, the luxury hotel was built with sustainability in mind. The restaurants use local ingredients. The property treats and reuses its gray water. And guests are encouraged to pitch in with the eco-friendly efforts by planting mangroves — the tally is 28,000 thus far.
“[Nujuma] is a sanctuary for nature and culture, an expression of Saudi hospitality through extraordinary personal experiences that leave lasting impressions on our guests,” Coveney says. “As the island matures and develops with time, we want to be at the forefront of sustainable business practices that are gentle on the environment and show a kind of hospitality that is in harmony with the pristine nature surrounding us in the Red Sea. We want our guests to be immersed in a world connected to nature and disconnected from the noise and distraction of everyday life.”
Service
As with other Ritz-Carlton Reserve hotels, service is a distinguishing feature. Each villa comes with a najm or najma, a personal host who can arrange all aspects of your stay. “Our personal hosts are dedicated to a one-to-one service experience that is truly personal,” Coveney says.
This approach extends beyond routine requests like booking a dinner or requesting an extra pillow to help you create meaningful memories during your stay. “The Ritz-Carlton talks a lot about ‘mystique,'” he says. “We look for opportunities to truly wow our guests in both small and big ways.”
