T+L’s Resort Evaluation of Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Saudi Arabia

“Till a number of years in the past, the one individuals who visited these islands have been native fishermen,” Sean Laughlin, a naturalist working at Nujuma, says, as we paused our seashore stroll to scour the horizon for dolphins. “They’d moor their little boats as much as relaxation, however no one else set foot right here, which is why the wildlife is so extraordinary.”

Strewn throughout waters which are vibrantly cerulean, Saudi Arabia’s tiny Ummahat archipelago is little greater than a handful of sugar-white sandbanks within the Crimson Sea (ummahat means “moms” in Arabic, as a result of new sandbanks are revealed at low tide). Wild egrets stalk the shallows for tiddlers, whereas the close by reef bustles with mantas, turtles, and sailfish. It’s laborious to fathom that such a panorama remained below the radar for thus lengthy, however these islands are a secret no extra. They’re now the house of Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which was lately named to T+L’s 2025 It Record of the perfect new lodges of the 12 months.

Its title—pronounced noo-joo-ma—is whispered among the many world’s elite vacationers like an incantation. Only a single night time on this island prices not less than $2,100, however once I checked into my villa, I might see why. There are solely 63 in whole, dotted throughout the seashores and alongside a round overwater boardwalk. Every villa’s form, conceived by famend architects Foster + Companions, resembles a large seashell: an ochre dome that both blends into the shoreline or, if over water, appears to drift on the ocean.

Ritz-Carlton Reserves are recognized for his or her distinctive landscapes and barefoot-luxe ethos, and that is the Center East’s first, one among simply eight on the earth. It opened in Could 2024, among the many inaugural lodges within the nation’s up-and-coming Crimson Sea area, which covers an space barely smaller than Hawaii and encompasses greater than 90 islands, together with swathes of desert and mountains on the mainland. Regardless of its scale, the area is designed to have a minimal carbon footprint: it’s going to run fully on renewable power by 2030 and may have solely a handful of lodges. Guests will likely be capped at 1 million yearly to stop overtourism.

Conservation is vital, too. On the coast and islands, 98,000 new corals and 600,000 mangrove seedlings have already been planted, together with 28,000 at Nujuma. “Sustainability isn’t only a buzzword, it’s on the root of every part we do,” the lodge’s basic supervisor, Tony Coveney, informed me once we caught up in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a number of months later. “We’re powered by photo voltaic power, we use native components in our eating places, we use gray water for irrigation—we’re doing every part we will to maintain the panorama as pristine as doable.”

As Nujuma’s resident wildlife professional, Laughlin is aware of this island just like the again of his hand. Day-after-day, he leads visitors on nature walks, dolphin-spotting cruises, and mangrove-planting expeditions. “My morning exercise is paddling to a close-by seagrass meadow to look at dugongs graze on their breakfast,” he laughed.

As for me, I spent my days snorkeling on the close by reef, kayaking across the sandbanks, and biking between seashores, frequently slack-jawed on the sea’s coloration. Nights have been for candle-lit dinners and stargazing, due to the near-complete lack of sunshine air pollution (nujuma means “stars” in Arabic). I had introduced two novels with me, however they sat, unopened, for the complete journey. These fishermen could have as soon as cherished their downtime right here, however this was no fly-and-flop.

Right here, every part you might want to find out about Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

The Rooms

Upon check-in, visitors are given a trendy wooden-bead bracelet as a substitute of a key card—merely swipe your wrist on the door to open it.

I cherished how every of the 63 dwellings is positioned for max privateness, with sea views by way of virtually each window. My dome-shaped villa was surprisingly roomy inside, with a big open-plan dwelling and eating space, a separate bed room, a kitchen, and two loos.

“The shell-like constructions have been made out of sustainable timber with rope cladding to mix with their environment,” says Marilu Sicoli, senior accomplice at Foster + Companions. “The scheme is respectful of present habitats, encourages chook nesting, and can protect the islands’ wealthy ecology.” My non-public plunge pool ignored the ocean, and the adjoining terrace was large sufficient to accommodate sunbeds and a eating desk. Every night, we took the villa’s telescope outdoors to gaze on the moon.

The lodge’s top-tier lodging, the Royal Nujuma Villa, has a spacious three-bedroom structure, designed for teams of as much as seven visitors.

Meals and Drink

I used to be shocked by the lodge’s bounty of Saudi produce, together with citrus fruits from Jeddah, apricots and pomegranates from Taif, in addition to seafood caught simply down the coast, because the Crimson Sea space is now a protected reserve. On the fish restaurant Tabrah, I feasted on oven-baked bream seasoned with conventional dried limes, adopted by a deliciously oozy mille-feuille laden with contemporary mango from Yanbu.

I’ve travelled extensively within the Center East, and sometimes components are imported from faraway international locations, so this reliance on contemporary native produce is admirable. “Individuals from abroad are sometimes shocked by the standard of Saudi Arabia’s homegrown components,” our waiter at Tabrah enthused, “whereas Saudi nationals are amazed to see how we elevate the flavours they’re aware of, turning them into dishes they’d look forward to finding at a positive restaurant in Europe, for instance.”

Sita is the center of the lodge, an all-day restaurant with six eating pavilions that serve every part from Levantine mezze to French-style patisserie, below an unlimited open-sided dome, with the ocean only a few steps past. Breakfast is served at Jamaa, the place you may sip your morning latte sprawled on the cushions of a conventional majlis (seating space), selecting between eggs royale, shakshuka, acai bowls, and extra.

Saudi Arabia is a dry nation, however what Nujuma’s mixologists lack in alcohol, they compensate for with exuberant mocktails (don’t miss their spin on sangria), alongside an intensive array of zero-percent beers, wines, and spirits. Pork additionally isn’t served.

Actions and Experiences

“It’s my mission to demystify Saudi tradition for abroad visitors,” Ohoud Mosuily, Nujuma’s tradition and heritage expertise supervisor, says as we sipped tiny cups of cardamom-infused Arabic espresso. She oversees the Conservation Home, the lodge’s culture- and wildlife-focused actions hub, and hosts talks “protecting every part from conventional costume in Saudi Arabia to our trendy music tastes and native feminine entrepreneurs.”

And that’s only one ingredient of Nujuma’s actions. Why flop on a lounger when you may swim alongside turtles on thriving coral reefs, discover the islands on a paddleboard, stargaze with a neighborhood astrophysicist, and search out endangered sooty falcons with a wildlife ranger?

In case you tire of your villa’s plunge pool, you may wallow within the resort’s lengthy beachfront infinity pool, which additionally provides a well-equipped 24/7 health club, watersports heart, and a dive faculty.

The Spa

Even amid the Center East’s lofty spa requirements, Neyrah Spa is spectacular. It doesn’t simply pay lip service to Saudi tradition, it’s infused with it—from the rosewater used to cleanse your fingers on arrival to the richly perfumed oud and sandalwood oils utilized in its deep-tissue massages, that are sourced from the historical metropolis of AlUla. Its considerable white marble and delicate picket carvings echo conventional Saudi design and really feel cosseting however not claustrophobic.

All remedy rooms overlook the ocean; fling open the shutters and take advantage of that view, no one will peek in. Submit-massage, I spent a gleeful hour sloshing round its pristine vitality swimming pools and hammam, earlier than curling up with chamomile tea and sticky medjool dates within the leisure room. The spa is totally gender-segregated.

Household-friendly Choices

Youngsters are welcome, and the complimentary children’ membership caters to ages 4 to 12, with island-inspired exercise classes, craft workshops, and extra. I can’t vouch for the membership personally, however I spoke to at least one household who waxed lyrical concerning the its sustainability focus, instructing the children concerning the marine wildlife, mangroves, and the way turtles return to nest on the identical seashore the place they hatched. There’s a separate household pool, and youngsters’s menus are provided in all eating places. For these travelling with older children, Nujuma provides bespoke household experiences comparable to stargazing and snorkelling. Alternatively, they’ll burn off some power by exploring the island on bikes.

Youngsters are doted upon in Saudi Arabia, however the lodge’s total vibe is serene and complex, so tantrums and boisterous play could elevate a number of eyebrows.

Accessibility and Sustainability

Whereas all villas are accessible, just one features a roll-in bathe. Each lodging and communal space, together with eating places, is step-free and options large doorways and spacious interiors. There’s a wheelchair-accessible buggy service accessible all through the resort, in addition to chair lifts for sure swimming pools.

In step with the broader Crimson Sea area’s sustainability initiatives, Nujuma goes to nice lengths to reduce its carbon footprint. All power is from renewable photo voltaic sources, and the lodge’s water remedy facility makes use of reverse osmosis to transform seawater into freshwater. Wastewater is processed in-house after which used for irrigation. The resort has additionally planted 28,0000 mangrove seedlings thus far, and visitors can plant extra throughout their keep. From biodegradable ingesting straws to massive refillable in-room toiletries (by Diptyque, no much less), Nujuma has its eye on the smaller particulars too.

Location

Simply getting right here is an journey. Crimson Sea Worldwide (RSI) is the closest airport, however it is just reached by flights from three locations: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dubai. On touchdown, you’ve gotten two choices to achieve the lodge: by seaplane, which takes about 10 minutes, or by a 30-minute speedboat journey. Transfers to the ferry port take 20 minutes in electrical vehicles powered by photo voltaic power.

Whereas Nujuma may be very distant, its sibling lodge, The St. Regis Crimson Sea Resort, is a five-minute boat journey away. Nujuma is the extra unique of the 2, however I like to recommend visiting the St. Regis for an al fresco seafood lunch at The Seaside Membership, or the nightly sabrage, the place the sommelier opens (non-alcoholic) Champagne with one swoosh of a sword.

E book Now

Nujuma is a part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, so members can earn factors, advantages, and free nights throughout their keep. It additionally unlocks free Wi-Fi, cell check-in, and discounted charges. For these on the bottom Silver tier, the perks embrace precedence late check-out and a ten % enhance on factors earned throughout their keep, rising to 75 % for these on the highest Ambassador Elite tier.

Nightly charges at Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve begin from SAR8,000, or $2,130.

Each T+L lodge assessment is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every lodge chosen aligns with our core values.