(NEWS) THE RED SEA, Saudi Arabia, 2025-Dec-9 — /Travel PR News/ — IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened the doors to InterContinental The Red Sea Resort, one of the first luxury properties to debut on Saudi Arabia’s Shura Island — a key destination within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 tourism development. The launch marks a milestone moment for IHG as it accelerates growth across its luxury and lifestyle portfolio, placing InterContinental at the forefront of a fast-rising Red Sea hospitality scene now welcoming world-class brands including Six Senses, St. Regis, Rosewood, Miraval and Four Seasons.
Set between crystalline waters, vibrant coral reefs, and more than 90 untouched islands that form one of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism developments, the resort blends exclusivity with elevated sustainability. Designed by Foster + Partners, with interiors by Kristina Zanic Consultants, the structure carries LEED BD+C Platinum certification and uses soft organic forms, natural textures and locally inspired artworks to reflect the surrounding marine ecology. The new resort embodies InterContinental’s modern luxury direction: a balance of refined comfort, connection to place and seamless travel experiences anchored in wellbeing, culture and discovery.
The resort features 210 rooms and suites, including the signature Red Sea Three-Bedroom Suite offering expansive sea views. Crafted with neuroscience-based design principles in collaboration with Isabelle Sjövall, each room supports restoration and mental clarity through considered lighting, tonal neutrality, tactile materials and biophilic connection. To help guests acclimate to time zones, the property offers complimentary access to Timeshifter — NASA-utilised circadian technology designed to minimise jet lag so travellers can arrive ready to explore.
Guests seeking heightened privacy can upgrade to Club InterContinental for personalised service, private check-in, exclusive lounges and enhanced amenities. Families benefit from the resort’s Planet Trekkers club, where marine-inspired programming, climbing walls, splash zones and outdoor activities inspire curiosity for younger guests. At The SPA InterContinental, open-air wellbeing domes, hydrotherapy, yoga rituals and personalised treatments deliver a sanctuary of stillness powered by Red Sea energy — sunlight, sound, wind and shadows — as natural cues for deep relaxation.
Dining brings the region’s cultural richness into focus. Chef Feras, celebrated for modern Arabic culinary artistry, leads a trio of flagship restaurants — Darein with Levantine-Moroccan influences, Ardo serving South American flavours designed for sharing, and Chimes where Mediterranean tapas meets sun-lit coastal ambience. Meanwhile, Chef Raamin elevates patisserie through Murrma, a contemporary mangrove-inspired dessert atelier known for its multi-sensory reinterpretations of childhood classics including the signature Apple Cinnamon Vanilla Spiral Donut. The culinary lineup will further expand in early 2026 with the addition of a Miami-inspired restaurant, The 305, and a second Ardo concept.
Opening on Shura Island places InterContinental within a growing constellation of luxury developments across The Red Sea region. Miraval The Red Sea — introducing Hyatt’s first international wellness resort and private Miraval Residences — is set to bring a 40,000-sq-ft Life in Balance Spa alongside mindfulness-focused programming. Rosewood Red Sea will introduce Asaya wellness and refined gastronomy, while Four Seasons prepares to launch a resort on NEOM’s Sindalah Island complete with a marina, yacht club and year-round lifestyle calendar. The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, open on the neighbouring Ummahat Island, has already established the region’s first private-island luxury retreat powered entirely by renewable energy.
These developments sit within a wider transformation of Saudi Arabia’s west coast, anchored in long-term environmental stewardship. According to Red Sea Global (RSG), the destination is powered by 100% renewable energy supported by a 1,000MWh battery storage system — one of the largest of its kind globally — enabling 24-hour clean power across the site. RSG has also launched a large-scale ecological restoration programme, including a mangrove nursery that aims to cultivate and plant 50 million mangroves by 2030 to enhance coastal habitats. Covering approximately 28,000 km² (10,800 sq mi) across an archipelago of more than 90 islands, reefs, desert landscapes and coastal lagoons, The Red Sea is positioned to become a global model for regenerative, luxury tourism.
InterContinental The Red Sea Resort now joins over 235 InterContinental hotels across 70 countries, representing IHG’s seventh luxury property in the country’s western region and reinforcing the brand’s presence among next-generation travellers. With design innovation, regenerative development and curated guest experiences at its core, the resort signals a new chapter for luxury travel along the Red Sea’s evolving coastline.
