On Sheybarah Island in the Al Wajh Lagoon, Shebara is the Red Sea's design icon: an ultra-luxury resort alone on its own island, where 73 private-pool villas are set around white-sand beaches, mangroves and one of the healthiest coral reef systems in the region. Operated end-to-end by Red Sea Global Hospitality and awarded two Michelin Keys in its first year, it pairs futuristic architecture with hafawah, the Saudi tradition of warm, generous hospitality.
The resort's signature is its overwater villas: reflective stainless-steel orbs by Killa Design that hover above the lagoon like a string of pearls, mirroring the colours of sea and sky. Ashore, the beachfront villas follow the soft forms of the dunes. Every villa has its own pool, and just offshore the reef falls away in a 30 to 40 metre drop-off, putting coral gardens and marine life at the island's doorstep.
Accommodations & Design
Seventy-three villas, each with a private pool: 38 overwater and 35 beachfront, from one-bedroom retreats to multi-villa ensembles for larger groups. Interiors by Studio Paolo Ferrari balance the engineered shells with cast glass, travertine, oak and leather, planned around the curves of each villa, with living and dining areas, pantries, terraces, daybeds, sunken outdoor lounges and outdoor showers throughout.
One and two-bedroom villas: the overwater villas (188 to 288 sqm) sit directly above the lagoon with private terraces, outdoor lounges and direct access to the water, while the beach villas (248 to 367 sqm) open straight onto the sand, framing views across the Red Sea.
Crown and Royal ensembles: on a private islet, the Crown ensemble pairs a 692 sqm three-bedroom villa with three one-bedroom villas for extended families and groups. The Royal ensemble is the island's largest address, a 900 sqm four-bedroom villa with three one-bedroom villas, generous entertaining spaces and a private yacht dock.
Amenities & Inclusions
Dining: five restaurants and bars designed by Rockwell Group. Ariamare brings Amalfi Coast Italian, from tagliata and ricotta gnudi to the artisanal Dolce Lab desserts, and iki.roe serves Japanese-Nikkei with omakase and truffle teriyaki lobster. Lunara is the seaside brasserie for breakfast and family favourites, Saria the relaxed family pool bar and grill, and Solera the adults-only pool bar pouring nature-inspired non-alcoholic drinks as the sun goes down.
Wellness: the Spa at Shebara works with AMRA and Dr Burgener products across five treatment rooms including a couples suite, with signature rituals such as the Pearl & Green Caviar hammam and the Moonlight Meteorite Massage, plus a vitality pool, saunas and steam rooms. Movement is covered by a 24-hour Technogym fitness centre, a yoga pavilion, and tennis and padel courts.
Experiences: Galaxea runs the underwater programme, from guided house-reef snorkelling and try dives to full PADI certification over the drop-off, while WAMA covers the lagoon with kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, e-foil and Sea Bob. After dark, Akun's astronomy evenings read the stories of the Arabian night sky, and a 30-minute scenic seaplane flight shows the whole archipelago from above.
Families: a Kids Club welcomes children aged three to twelve, the family pool has areas for younger children, and the multi-bedroom villas and ensembles make the island work across generations.
How Private Is This Island?
Shebara is the only resort on Sheybarah Island, some 25 kilometres offshore in the lagoon. Villas are spaced along the shoreline and over the water, the Crown ensemble sits on its own islet, and the reef and mangroves keep the island in a world of its own, with open views across the lagoon and the Red Sea.
Getting There
Fly to Red Sea International Airport. From there, a 30-minute seaplane flight lands directly at the island, or a 30-minute road transfer to the Turtle Bay Arrival Lounge connects with a boat crossing of 30 to 40 minutes. The destination lies 500 kilometres north of Jeddah, between the towns of Al Wajh and Umluj.
Sustainability
The resort is fully off-grid, powered by on-site renewable energy, and LEED Platinum certified with 86 points. The overwater villas were constructed and fitted out off-site to protect the reef, outdoor water use is reduced by 68 percent, and all rainwater runoff is retained on the island.
