This Resort With Overwater Bungalows Is on an Island That Just Opened to Tourists—and It's One of the Best New Hotels in the World

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, was named to T+L's 2025 It List of the best new hotels of the year.

From private pools and butler service to telescopes for stargazing and toiletries by Diptyque,the villas offer everything guests need for a luxurious stay.

Saudi ingredients take center stage in Nujuma’s cuisine, whether it’s local bream, traditional dried limes, or fresh mango from Umluj.

The hotel’s nature walks, stargazing sessions, and heritage-focused programming celebrate Saudi Arabia’s rich culture.

Keep an eye out for dolphins during the 30-minute speedboat transfer to the hotel or on the 10-minute seaplane flight.

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“Until a few years ago, the only people who visited these islands were local fishermen,” Sean Laughlin, a naturalist working at Nujuma, says, as we paused our beach walk to scour the horizon for dolphins. “They’d moor their little boats up to rest, but nobody else set foot here, which is why the wildlife is so extraordinary.”

Strewn across waters that are vibrantly cerulean, Saudi Arabia’s tiny Ummahat archipelago is little more than a handful of sugar-white sandbanks in the Red Sea (ummahat means "mothers" in Arabic, because new sandbanks are revealed at low tide). Wild egrets stalk the shallows for tiddlers, while the nearby reef bustles with mantas, turtles, and sailfish. It’s hard to fathom that such a landscape remained under the radar for so long, but these islands are a secret no more. They’re now the home of Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which was recently named to T+L's 2025 It List of the best new hotels of the year.

Its name—pronounced noo-joo-ma—is whispered among the world’s elite travelers like an incantation. Just a single night on this island costs at least $2,100, but when I checked into my villa, I could see why. There are only 63 in total, dotted across the beaches and along a circular overwater boardwalk. Each villa’s shape, conceived by renowned architects Foster + Partners, resembles a giant seashell: an ochre dome that either blends into the shoreline or, if over water, seems to float on the sea.

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The welcome arrival jetty.

Ritz-Carlton Reserves are known for their distinctive landscapes and barefoot-luxe ethos, and this is the Middle East’s first, one of just eight in the world. It opened in May 2024, among the inaugural hotels in the country's up-and-coming Red Sea region, which covers an area slightly smaller than Hawaii and encompasses more than 90 islands, along with swathes of desert and mountains on the mainland. Despite its scale, the region is designed to have a minimal carbon footprint: it will run entirely on renewable energy by 2030 and will have only a handful of hotels. Visitors will be capped at 1 million annually to prevent overtourism.

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Conservation is key, too. On the coast and islands, 98,000 new corals and 600,000 mangrove seedlings have already been planted, including 28,000 at Nujuma. “Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword, it’s at the root of everything we do,” the hotel’s general manager, Tony Coveney, told me when we caught up in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a few months later. “We’re powered by solar energy, we use local ingredients in our restaurants, we use grey water for irrigation—we’re doing everything we can to keep the landscape as pristine as possible.”

As Nujuma’s resident wildlife expert, Laughlin knows this island like the back of his hand. Every day, he leads guests on nature walks, dolphin-spotting cruises, and mangrove-planting expeditions. “My morning workout is paddling to a nearby seagrass meadow to watch dugongs graze on their breakfast,” he laughed.

As for me, I spent my days snorkeling on the nearby reef, kayaking around the sandbanks, and cycling between beaches, continually slack-jawed at the sea's color. Nights were for candle-lit dinners and stargazing, thanks to the near-complete lack of light pollution (nujuma means "stars" in Arabic). I had brought two novels with me, but they sat, unopened, for the entire trip. Those fishermen may have once cherished their downtime here, but this was no fly-and-flop.

Here, everything you need to know about Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

The Rooms

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The exterior and private pool at one of the Beach Villas.

Upon check-in, guests are given a stylish wooden-bead bracelet instead of a key card—simply swipe your wrist at the door to open it.

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I loved how each of the 63 dwellings is positioned for maximum privacy, with sea views through almost every window. My dome-shaped villa was surprisingly roomy inside, with a large open-plan living and dining area, a separate bedroom, a kitchen, and two bathrooms.

“The shell-like structures were made from sustainable timber with rope cladding to blend with their surroundings,” says Marilu Sicoli, senior partner at Foster + Partners. “The scheme is respectful of existing habitats, encourages bird nesting, and will preserve the islands’ rich ecology.” My private plunge pool overlooked the sea, and the adjoining terrace was wide enough to accommodate sunbeds and a dining table. Each evening, we took the villa’s telescope outside to gaze at the moon.

The hotel’s top-tier accommodation, the Royal Nujuma Villa, has a spacious three-bedroom layout, designed for groups of up to seven guests.

Food and Drink

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The terrace at Sita, the Middle Eastern restaurant named for its six pavilions.

I was surprised by the hotel’s bounty of Saudi produce, including citrus fruits from Jeddah, apricots and pomegranates from Taif, as well as seafood caught just down the coast, since the Red Sea area is now a protected reserve. At the fish restaurant Tabrah, I feasted on oven-baked bream seasoned with traditional dried limes, followed by a deliciously oozy mille-feuille laden with fresh mango from Yanbu.

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I’ve travelled extensively in the Middle East, and often ingredients are imported from faraway countries, so this reliance on fresh local produce is admirable. “People from overseas are often surprised by the quality of Saudi Arabia's homegrown ingredients,” our waiter at Tabrah enthused, “while Saudi nationals are amazed to see how we elevate the flavours they’re familiar with, turning them into dishes they’d expect to find at a fine restaurant in Europe, for example.”

Sita is the heart of the hotel, an all-day restaurant with six dining pavilions that serve everything from Levantine mezze to French-style patisserie, under a vast open-sided dome, with the sea just a few steps beyond. Breakfast is served at Jamaa, where you can sip your morning latte sprawled on the cushions of a traditional majlis (seating area), choosing between eggs royale, shakshuka, acai bowls, and more.

Saudi Arabia is a dry country, but what Nujuma’s mixologists lack in alcohol, they compensate for with exuberant mocktails (don’t miss their spin onsangria), alongside an extensive array of zero-percent beers, wines, and spirits. Pork also isn’t served.

Activities and Experiences

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Scenic beach views from the adult-only pool.

“It’s my mission to demystify Saudi culture for overseas guests,” Ohoud Mosuily, Nujuma’s culture and heritage experience manager, says as we sipped tiny cups of cardamom-infused Arabic coffee. She oversees the Conservation House, the hotel’s culture- and wildlife-focused activities hub, and hosts talks “covering everything from traditional dress in Saudi Arabia to our modern music tastes and local female entrepreneurs."

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And that’s just one element of Nujuma’s activities. Why flop on a lounger when you can swim alongside turtles on thriving coral reefs, explore the islands on a paddleboard, stargaze with a local astrophysicist, and seek out endangered sooty falcons with a wildlife ranger?

If you tire of your villa’s plunge pool, you can wallow in the resort’s long beachfront infinity pool, which also offers a well-equipped 24/7 gym, watersports center, and a dive school.

The Spa

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

One of the treatment rooms at the Neyrah Spa.

Even amid the Middle East’s lofty spa standards, Neyrah Spa is impressive. It doesn’t just pay lip service to Saudi culture, it’s infused with it—from the rosewater used to cleanse your hands on arrival to the richly perfumed oud and sandalwood oils used in its deep-tissue massages, which are sourced from the ancient city of AlUla. Its abundant white marble and delicate wooden carvings echo traditional Saudi design and feel cosseting but not claustrophobic.

All treatment rooms overlook the ocean; fling open the shutters and make the most of that view, nobody will peek in. Post-massage, I spent a gleeful hour sloshing around its pristine vitality pools and hammam, before curling up with chamomile tea and sticky medjool dates in the relaxation room. The spa is fully gender-segregated.

Family-friendly Offerings

Children are welcome, and the complimentary kids’ club caters to ages four to 12, with island-inspired activity sessions, craft workshops, and more. I can’t vouch for the club personally, but I spoke to one family who waxed lyrical about the its sustainability focus, teaching the kids about the marine wildlife, mangroves, and how turtles return to nest on the same beach where they hatched. There is a separate family pool, and children’s menus are offered in all restaurants. For those travelling with older kids, Nujuma offers bespoke family experiences such as stargazing and snorkelling. Alternatively, they can burn off some energy by exploring the island on bikes.

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Children are doted upon in Saudi Arabia, but the hotel’s overall vibe is serene and sophisticated, so tantrums and boisterous play may raise a few eyebrows.

Accessibility and Sustainability

While all villas are accessible, only one includes a roll-in shower. Every accommodation and communal area, including restaurants, is step-free and features wide doorways and spacious interiors. There is a wheelchair-accessible buggy service available throughout the resort, as well as chair lifts for certain pools.

In line with the wider Red Sea region’s sustainability initiatives, Nujuma goes to great lengths to minimize its carbon footprint. All energy is from renewable solar sources, and the hotel’s water treatment facility uses reverse osmosis to convert seawater into freshwater. Wastewater is processed in-house and then used for irrigation. The resort has also planted 28,0000 mangrove seedlings to date, and guests can plant more during their stay. From biodegradable drinking straws to large refillable in-room toiletries (by Diptyque, no less), Nujuma has its eye on the smaller details too.

Location

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Sip mocktails and be lead by star experts for a celestial experience at Maia.

Just getting here is an adventure. Red Sea International (RSI) is the closest airport, but it is only reached by flights from three destinations: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dubai. On landing, you have two options to reach the hotel: by seaplane, which takes about 10 minutes, or by a 30-minute speedboat ride. Transfers to the ferry port take 20 minutes in electric cars powered by solar energy.

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While Nujuma is very remote, its sibling hotel, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, is a five-minute boat ride away. Nujuma is the more exclusive of the two, but I recommend visiting the St. Regis for an al fresco seafood lunch at The Beach Club, or the nightly sabrage, where the sommelier opens (non-alcoholic) Champagne with one swoosh of a sword.

Book Now

Nujuma is part of the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, so members can earn points, benefits, and free nights during their stay. It also unlocks free Wi-Fi, mobile check-in, and discounted rates. For those on the lowest Silver tier, the perks include priority late check-out and a 10 percent boost on points earned during their stay, rising to 75 percent for those on the top Ambassador Elite tier.

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

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Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.

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