Saudi Arabia’s western coastline is quietly becoming one of the most compelling new destinations in the region. Shura Island – the centrepiece of The Red Sea project – now has three hotels open, and the InterContinental Red Sea Resort is among the first to welcome guests. Designed under the ‘Coral Bloom’ concept, the property sits on a dolphin-shaped island surrounded by what is considered the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef. For those who have yet to visit, the lagoon that wraps around the resort is worth knowing about: a vivid, almost altered bright turquoise that takes your breath away.
Arriving at the InterContinental Red Sea Resort, the first thing that strikes you is the architecture. The curved, organic structure gives the property a sense of quiet distinction. Inside, the lobby maintains the same fluid language: double-height ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and a design philosophy that, as guests are told, consciously avoids straight lines. A spiral staircase descends from the lobby to Darein, the main all-day dining restaurant, which opens directly onto the pool and beach. The lagoon is right there from almost any point, its colour an immediate reminder that this is somewhere genuinely different from the established luxury hotel circuit.
The InterContinental Red Sea Resort offers 178 rooms and 32 suites across a range of configurations. Our one-bedroom lagoon view suite comes with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, meaning you’re never more than a few steps away from the water. Each suite has a private terrace with a round outdoor day bed and a hanging wicker swing chair. Inside, the room is compact but well-considered: a curved ceiling detail with warm ambient lighting, wood-panelled walls, a generous wardrobe, and a lounge area with a separate seating section. Two-bedroom suites are also available and come with a separate living room and small kitchen, making them well suited to families or longer stays.
The standout experience of a stay at the InterContinental Red Sea Resort is, without question, the reef. Shura Island sits beside one of the world’s most intact coral systems – decades of limited international tourism mean it has been largely left alone. Guests can arrange a guided snorkelling excursion through the hotel, departing by boat from Turtle Bay and reaching the reef in around 25 minutes. Full wetsuits, masks and fins are provided, along with experienced guides who accompany the group while allowing plenty of freedom to explore independently.
What awaits underwater is striking. The coral here doesn’t spread across the seabed in shallow patches; it rises up like a submerged mountain range, dense and varied, with fish moving through it in every direction – orange anthias, trigger fish, tiny jellyfish, and dozens of other species.
It is worth noting that the hotel was still in its early stages at the time of our visit, with not all five dining venues fully operational. Even so, the food made a largely positive impression. Lunch at Chimes, the poolside Mediterranean restaurant, offered a surprisingly good wood-fired sourdough pizza alongside lighter poolside bites. The pool setting is well designed and lively without being overrun, and the food quality sits comfortably above what you’d expect from a hotel pool bar.
Dinner at Darein was more impressive still. The Levantine and Moroccan-inspired menu, led by executive chef Feras, delivered dishes with real care and quality: the beef was excellent, and the hummus, served alongside Les Estoublon olive oil from France, was quietly exceptional.
The Spa InterContinental spans 3,000 sqm and offers a full range of treatments alongside a vitality pool, yoga sessions and dedicated wellness programmes. We opted for a 90-minute movement and massage session that combined deep tissue work, targeted stretching and spinal manipulation. The result was one of the more effective body treatments we’ve had in a hotel spa.
Beyond the reef, the resort’s activity offering is broad. Kayaking and paddleboarding can be arranged through the hotel, and tennis and padel courts are on site with equipment provided. Between the beach, the lagoon and the activities desk, it would be easy to fill several days without leaving the island.
The InterContinental Red Sea Resort is operating at an interesting moment: new enough that some elements are still being refined but established enough to deliver the experience it promises. As the broader Shura Island project develops and the remaining properties open around it, this stretch of Saudi Arabia is going to become a serious consideration for anyone looking for something genuinely different. For now, the InterContinental Red Sea Resort makes a compelling and convincing first chapter.
