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Saudi Arabia continues to transform its Red Sea coastline into one of the world’s most ambitious luxury destinations.
The latest step in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision is Rosewood Amaala – a spectacular resort spanning nearly 100 acres, yet offering just 110 accommodations, along with private pools, butler service and an enormous wellness center.
While projects such as NEOM have been attracting global attention for years, another destination is gradually emerging along the Red Sea coast that could position Saudi Arabia among the world’s most important luxury tourism destinations.
As part of Red Sea Global’s Amaala project, Rosewood Amaala opened on August 18, marking the first Rosewood Hotels & Resorts property in Saudi Arabia.
And its sheer scale perhaps best demonstrates just how different the concept is from that of a conventional luxury hotel.
The complex occupies 40 hectares, or almost 100 acres, an area roughly comparable to the entirety of Vatican City. Yet across this enormous space there are only 110 pavilions, suites and villas.
In other words, space itself has become one of the resort’s greatest luxuries.
Private Pools, the Red Sea and a Butler at Your Service
Rosewood Amaala is located in Triple Bay, with accommodations arranged in smaller clusters surrounded by greenery to provide guests with the highest possible level of privacy.
Views extend across the Red Sea and its spectacular coral ecosystem, while many of the accommodations feature private pools and spaces designed to almost completely blur the boundary between interiors and nature.
The resort also offers communal swimming pools, as well as two natural stone pools along the shores of the Red Sea.
Starting with the one-bedroom villas, the level of service becomes distinctly residential. Guests have access to fully equipped kitchens, outdoor barbecue areas and dedicated butler service, while a private chef can also be arranged upon request.
The idea is clear: Rosewood Amaala is not simply trying to be a hotel, but a private sanctuary where guests have practically no reason to leave the resort.
A 2,100-Square-Meter Wellness Center
One of the central elements of the complex is Asaya Spa, an impressive wellness space covering approximately 2,100 square meters, or around 22,600 square feet.
It features six treatment rooms, one double treatment suite, a private hammam, as well as separate wellness areas for men and women complete with saunas and steam rooms.
There are also two fitness centers equipped with Technogym Artis equipment.
A particularly interesting part of the concept is the Arabian Apothecary, where guests can explore regional herbs and traditional approaches to wellness rituals while creating their own botanical preparations.
For those who find that even a conventional luxury spa does not provide enough privacy, there is Social House – a separate day spa within the Asaya concept that can be reserved entirely by a family or group of friends.
From Morning to Sunset, Everything Becomes a Ritual
Rosewood Amaala aims to define luxury through experiences rather than simply square footage and price.
One of the resort’s symbols is a six-meter-tall olive tree positioned at the entrance to the Olea restaurant. The day, meanwhile, concludes with a ritual known as Sukūn Hour – named after the Arabic word associated with peace and stillness.
The ritual accompanies sunset and can include Saudi coffee in the library or breathing exercises beneath the olive tree.
The culinary offering encompasses a total of eight distinct experiences, while families have access to Rosewood Explorers, a specially designed club for younger guests.
The Resort Runs on Solar Energy
Saudi Arabia’s enormous investments in luxury tourism are also accompanied by sustainability ambitions, with Rosewood Amaala planned to be powered entirely by solar energy.
This is particularly significant because Amaala is not conceived as an isolated hotel, but as part of a much broader transformation of the Red Sea coastline.
For guests who decide that a few days at the resort simply are not enough, there is an even more exclusive option.
Rosewood Residences Amaala comprises just 26 branded private residences – three- to five-bedroom villas with interiors designed by French designer Tristan Auer.
Luxury Starting at Around $1,000 per Night
Rosewood Amaala represents an interesting shift in the way an ultra-luxury resort is defined today.
Instead of building hundreds of rooms in an attractive location, almost 100 acres have been dedicated to just 110 accommodations. Privacy, nature, views, wellness and personalized service become more important than the sheer monumentality of the hotel itself.
The price of such an experience is, unsurprisingly, considerable – stays begin at just over $1,000 per night.
Still, Rosewood Amaala is only one part of a much larger story. Saudi Arabia wants to transform the Red Sea into a new global address for luxury, and a resort almost the size of Vatican City designed to accommodate only a few hundred guests makes the scale of that ambition remarkably clear.
