Kengo Kuma rarely works in the Arabian Peninsula, which makes his commission for The St. Regis Red Sea Resort all the more arresting. Completed in 2024 on Ummahat Island within the shallow turquoise waters of the Al Wajh Lagoon, this was the first private island resort to open anywhere along the Saudi coastline — a debut shaped as much by environmental ambition as architectural vision. Kuma, working alongside Dewan Architects and Engineers, deployed prefabricated timber construction with cedar-shingle roofs and clay-plaster walls, the curved and spiral forms of each of the 90 villas drawn from the logic of sand dunes and coral reefs rather than imported resort typologies. The effect is closer to a coastal settlement grown from its landscape than to a built intervention imposed upon one. Inside, Kristina Zanic Consultants translated that same attentiveness into a LEED Platinum-aligned palette where desert sand, soft white oak herringbone floors, and woven rattan ceilings anchor the rooms before coral-hued circular rugs and teal accents pull the reef back in. The all-villa format — 47 beachfront, 43 overwater — gives each space floor-to-ceiling glass trained on the Red Sea, while the resort's all-day dining pavilion layers hand-knotted ceiling installations over mosaic stone floors and rope-woven chairs that feel genuinely rooted in craft tradition. The pool terrace, framed by date palms laden with fruit, completes an atmosphere that sits somewhere between an Emirati pearl-diving settlement and a very considered contemporary retreat.

Chartered boat or seaplane transfer required from Red Sea airport (RSI)

Located on a pristine private island, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort presents a rare vision of exquisite living. Fashioned from one of the world’s little known natural treasures, the destination artfully blends the brand’s visionary spirit, avant garde style and bespoke service with a progressive new benchmark for sustainable development. Accessed from the coast of Saudi Arabia via chartered boat or seaplane, Ummahat Island occupies a secluded aspect in the pioneering The Red Sea project. A rich environment for leisure time, the resort offers a collection of 90 overwater and beachfront villas, each with spacious footprint and private pool. Creating an atmosphere of immersive experiences, the resort includes an outdoor pool, high tech fitness center, signature spa and kids club. Exceptional fine dining is served at three restaurants, each with a unique concept. Every stay is enhanced by the St. Regis Butler service alongside a curated selection of signature rituals designed to transcend the ordinary.