The first resort on Shura Island delivers the destination’s most stylish introduction yet.
I arrive on the first international flight into the newly opened Red Sea International Airport. Designed by Foster + Partners, the terminal is shaped around five dune-like pods that feel more resort than runway, prioritising a private lounge aesthetic over a tarmac transfer. The clever part comes after passing immigration, where your baggage doesn’t circle endlessly on a carousel; it’s quietly routed ahead, so you can walk out of the airport as if you’ve already checked in The Red Sea EDITION.
Twenty-five minutes later, I’m watching the Red Sea flicker through the windows of an electric blue Lucid as we glide towards Shura Island. I’ve visited The Red Sea project several times before: out to the Ummahat Islands for Nujuma and The St. Regis Red Sea, or inland for the dramatic geology of Desert Rock and the stillness of Six Senses Southern Dunes. This time, the destination is Shura Island, an offshore enclave connected to the mainland by Saudi Arabia’s longest internal bridge. With 11 resorts promised by the end of 2026, The Red Sea EDITION was the first to open, and it’s setting the tone, gently but confidently.
The location offers much of the appeal, with no need for boats, seaplanes or long desert drives. The Red Sea EDITION is wedged between powder-white sands and turquoise water on one side, and the manicured fairways of Shura Links, Saudi Arabia’s first island golf course, on the other. Beach or back nine, depending on your mood. The wider island is still taking shape, but the resort is cleverly positioned so that the ongoingconstruction work is not visible.
Arrival and atmosphere
The first thing you notice is the scent. That familiar EDITION fragrance of black tea hits you as you pass through the thick planting into a lobby of curated calm. The sanctuary-like space opens onto a raised dais overlooking the pool and a glittering strip of the Red Sea beyond. Rockwell Group leads the architecture and interiors, crafting immersive spaces where rock, sand and sea are in constant conversation. Natural materials set the aesthetic: rammed earth and natural oak, coral stone underfoot, and woven textiles that soften the edges. It has the drama of desert canyons without feeling themed, and the statement ceramic chandelier hovering overhead looks like a fragment of geology, coaxed into place.
EDITION’s magic has always been about making design feel effortless. Ian Schrager’s hotel DNA has now been scaled with Marriott’s reach, and this Red Sea resort leans into the brand’s “less is more” confidence. It’s stylish and social without overwhelming. There’s an EDITION boutique stocked with marvellous merch, including slides, bucket hats, and statement pieces from Saudi streetwear label Not Normal. I find myself hunting for the hotel’s Le Labo products too, hoping to smuggle the scent home in a suitcase.
Unlike the ultra-quiet, villa-first headline resorts that have defined much of The Red Sea’s early hospitality story, The Red Sea EDITION is unapologetically more social. This is a resort with a pulse, helped along by a poolside DJ and spontaneous saxophone performances that drift through the property just when you think the setting can’t get more cinematic.
Rooms and suites
The Red Sea EDITION is home to 240 guest rooms, including 53 suites, which makes it one of the more “hotel” propositions in a region that has leaned hard into private villas. Pavilion rooftops across Shura take cues from coral formations and seashells when viewed from above. My Junior Suite is all cream and calm, a soft landing after the brightness outside. The bed anchors the room, piled with plump pillows and a duvet that practically tucks you in. From there, the space fans out into a couple of comfortable armchairs, a small dining table, and bedside vanities that keep everything neat and within reach. It’s minimalist, but not empty.
The tech is quietly satisfying. Curtains glide open at the touch of a bedside button, the super-fast Wi-Fi doesn’t test your patience, and there’s a proper line-up of modern travel essentials: a retractable television, a clothes steamer, a coffee machine.
The bathroom is the closer. Bigger than most studio apartments with a rainfall shower, a deep bathtub, and Le Labo products that give the whole space an artisanal edge. A window between the bath and the bedroom creates an extra sense of space, and yes, you can sit in the tub and watch the bedroom TV. Privacy isn’t an issue either; the drapes do their job when needed.
If you’re coming from Villa First Resorts, the lack of a private pool in standard keys is the one moment you might pause. But the trade-off is ease: you get EDITION’s refined version of resort living, and you’re never far from the beach or the pool.
Destination dining
The restaurants are where this resort earns its place on Shura. EDITION hotels are built around their dining destinations, and The Red Sea EDITION’s overall culinary approach is wellness-forward, promoting seasonal produce and clean flavours.
Central is the all-day anchor, inspired by New York’s Grand Central Station in spirit. It’s the place you drift into for a bountiful breakfast and leave caffeinated, and slightly tempted by another pastry or stack of fluffy pancakes. As the day progresses, the menu transitions to American comfort classics such as steaks, key lime pie, and grilled items, filtered through Saudi ingredients. The open kitchen and communal tables make it feel like the social heart of the hotel.
By the water, Jiwa Beach Club is where the mood shifts. The name means “soul,” and it’s the most animated space on the property: Bali-inspired, Indonesian-led, and built around water, fire, sound and shisha. Dishes lean into Southeast Asian staples (the satay is exactly what you want to order here), and by night the theatre ramps up with a wow-worthy fire show that blurs the line between dinner and performance. Beside the pool, Jiwa Terrace offers a brighter, more daytime take on the concept, with nutrient-rich Indonesian plates, light bites, and fresh juices.
Rest and recreation
The resort stretches along roughly a kilometre of private beach, and the main pool sits like a stage facing the sea. Flanked by cabanas, sunbeds and an ice cream trolley, the waters cascade through multiple levels like a Balinese rice terrace. The picturesque pool is fringed by palm trees, leading to the beautiful beachfront with its crystal-clear waters and powder-white sands.
For those who like their luxury with a recovery plan, the spa and gym are strong. The design remains muted and modern, in keeping with the rest of the hotel, and treatments feature bespoke scents and sounds that make the experience feel personal. Omorovicza rituals are performed in private rooms, and the facilities go beyond the basics with hot and cold plunge pools, indoor and outdoor options, and a Recovery Dome with infrared and snow therapies for the kind of reset you’ll talk about long after check-out. The separate yet spacious gym offers high-energy training, modern equipment and classes that make you feel virtuous without ruining your holiday.
The verdict
As the first resort to open on Shura Island, The Red Sea EDITION offers a sense of quiet luxury with a social streak, making a strong case for Shura as the next Red Sea chapter. While the island is still evolving, the hotel feels protected from the mechanics of development, cocooned by its beach, its sea views, and the greens of Shura Links.
The Red Sea EDITION is not pretending to be the castaway fantasy that the “Maldives of the Middle East” PR would lead you to believe. Instead, it leans into resort living with EDITION’s signature style, thoughtful design, and staff who thrive on delivering warm Saudi hospitality. As an entry point to the destination, both in accessibility and price point, it’s luxe, lovely, and already feels like the social and stylistic primer for what’s coming next.
GO: Visit www.editionhotels.com for more information.