Saudi Arabia's Red Sea in Full: Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a resort on the Ummahat Islands in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, accessible only by chartered boat or seaplane. It opened in 2024, holds two Michelin Keys, a Forbes Five Star rating for 2026, and back-to-back World Spa Awards for Saudi Arabia's Best Resort Spa in 2024 and 2025. It sits surrounded by the world's fourth-largest barrier reef — undamaged, because almost no boats have ever been permitted near it.

The name means stars in Arabic. The choice is not incidental. The Ummahat Islands sit in one of the last significant natural dark sky zones remaining on Earth — no cities nearby, no light pollution, no competing illumination between the guest and the sky above the Red Sea. The region is on track to become the world's second-largest international dark sky reserve. The general manager describes it simply: "There are no cities nearby. The outer reef is mind-blowing. There are sharks, sea turtles and dolphin pods. What's unusual about the reef is that because almost no boats are allowed here, there's been no damage done — no anchors have been dropped and the coral is gorgeous, alive and full of colour."

This is the detail that separates Nujuma from every comparable property in the Indian Ocean. The coral at the Maldives, at the Seychelles, at every well-established island resort in the world, has been exposed to decades of boat traffic, anchor damage, and tourist contact. The reef at Ummahat has not. It is a marine environment of a quality that barely exists anywhere else that luxury accommodation has been placed alongside it.

The Setting

Located in the untouched Ummahat Islands and surrounded by the world's fourth-largest barrier reef, Nujuma invites guests to explore pristine coral gardens and the secrets of the Blue Hole. Each experience is personal — led by resident experts in astronomy, culture, nature, and wellness.

The resort is accessible only by chartered boat from the mainland or by seaplane — a journey that begins at King Abdullah Economic City and takes approximately forty minutes by boat. There is no road. There is no bridge. The islands are genuinely remote in a way that most marketed remoteness is not.

The architecture draws on the Saudi heritage of the region — the traditional fishing villages and pearl-diving culture of the Red Sea coast — translated into a contemporary luxury register. The white sand beaches and the particular shade of blue the Red Sea produces at this latitude are consistent across every photograph and every review. First-time visitors describe being unprepared for how the water looks.

The Villas

The overwater villas are the accommodation category most frequently cited in reviews — direct access to the sea from the villa terrace, private pools, views in all directions across the Red Sea. Two-bedroom configurations are available for families or those who want the additional space.

Every guest is assigned a personal butler — referred to in the Ritz-Carlton Reserve system as a personal assistant — who manages the full stay from arrival logistics to dining reservations to marine activity bookings. The butler service at Nujuma is consistently described as one of the most attentive available at any property in the region: staff who know names before arrival, who anticipate requests before they are made, and who invest in the visit with a quality of engagement that the reviews describe as genuinely personal rather than procedurally warm.

The property is alcohol-free, consistent with Saudi Arabian law. The food and beverage programme — four restaurants including SITA, serving Middle Eastern cuisine — operates at a standard that the reviews describe as considerably better than the assumption might suggest.

The Reef and the Water

The marine environment at Ummahat is the property's most distinctive and most irreplaceable asset. Resident marine biologists lead snorkelling and diving excursions to coral gardens that have never been subjected to the anchor damage and tourist traffic that has compromised reef ecosystems at comparable properties globally. The Blue Hole — a specific dive site on the reef — is cited as one of the experiences that most consistently exceeds expectation.

Marine activity bookings require advance reservation — the team manages the number of guests in the water at any given time to preserve the reef environment. This constraint is a feature rather than a limitation: it means the experience is never crowded, and the reef remains in the condition that makes the visit worth making.

Dolphin pods are regular visitors to the bay. Sea turtles are encountered on most snorkelling excursions. Sharks — reef sharks, not a concern for swimmers — are visible at the outer reef. The wildlife diversity reflects a marine environment that has been left almost entirely undisturbed.

The Sky

Nujuma employs resident astronomers — part of the personal expert system that distinguishes a Ritz-Carlton Reserve from a standard luxury hotel. Evening stargazing sessions, guided by staff who understand the specific sky above the Ummahat Islands, are among the most consistently mentioned experiences in the reviews.

The dark sky quality at this latitude and location is exceptional. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. The southern constellations are accessible in ways they are not from Europe. For guests who have never encountered genuinely dark sky conditions, the first evening outside the villa tends to produce a response that the reviews describe as difficult to anticipate.

Neyrah Spa

The Neyrah Spa has held the World Spa Awards title for Saudi Arabia's Best Resort Spa in both 2024 and 2025. The wellness programme draws on the botanical heritage of the Red Sea region — moringa healing rituals, locally-sourced marine ingredients, treatments that are specific to this location rather than imported from a generic luxury spa menu.

The HWH Retreat — a curated wellness journey available as a multi-day programme — integrates gentle movement, mindful practices, and spa treatments against the setting of the Red Sea. It is designed for guests who want structured wellness rather than simply access to a spa. The LEED Platinum certification of the property extends to the spa's sustainability credentials.

The Practical Picture

Nujuma is accessible from Riyadh via King Abdullah Economic City — approximately a two-hour drive followed by a forty-minute boat transfer, or a direct seaplane from the city. International guests typically route through Riyadh or Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia's e-visa system now permits international leisure visitors from the vast majority of countries — a development as recent as 2019 that has transformed the accessibility of the Red Sea region. The FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia recommends normal precautions for the Red Sea coast. The resort is alcohol-free.

A minimum of two nights is strongly recommended — the marine activities alone require the time, and guests consistently report that one night is insufficient.

Who it's for

• Those for whom the Maldives has become too familiar and the Indian Ocean too visited.
• Serious divers and snorkellers who understand what undamaged coral looks like and want to find it.
• Anyone who has not seen a genuinely dark sky and is prepared to be surprised by what one looks like.