Shebara
Sheybarah Island, Al Wajh Lagoon, The Red Sea — Red Sea Global Hospitality
Shebara opened in November 2024 on Sheybarah Island in the Al Wajh Lagoon. The lagoon stretches between Umluj and Al Wajh on Saudi Arabia’s northwestern Red Sea coast. Red Sea Global owns and operates the property directly — the first resort the organisation has run itself. Consequently, Shebara reflects its sustainability commitments without compromise. Solar energy powers the resort entirely. Zero-waste and zero-water protocols govern its operations. The surrounding marine area functions as a conservation zone rather than an amenity backdrop.
The design comes from Killa Design, the Dubai-based architecture firm. Stainless steel orbs float above the lagoon or rest on the beach. Each one reflects the colours and surface patterns of the surrounding sea. The concept draws on the formation of pearls — each villa positioned like a floating orb along a strand. Furthermore, the reflective material means the structures change character throughout the day as the light and water colour shift around them.
The Island and Marine Environment
Sheybarah Island sits within the Al Wajh Lagoon. Dense mangrove systems line parts of the shore. Desert flora and rolling sand dunes cover the interior. Turtle nesting grounds occupy the quieter beach stretches. The reef drop-off begins thirty to forty metres from the beach. As a result, guests enter some of the most intact coral systems in the Arabian Peninsula without a boat transfer. The lagoon water clarity is exceptional. Additionally, the island’s protected status means the reef carries none of the visitor pressure found on the more accessible Egyptian and Jordanian Red Sea coasts. Shebara sits above this environment with a physical lightness — the orb structures touch the water surface without anchoring into the reef below.
Accommodation
Shebara offers seventy-three villas across two settings. Thirty-eight overwater orbs float above the lagoon on slim supports. Each has direct water access from its private terrace. Thirty-five beachfront retreats sit on the island itself, facing the sea. All villas include a separate living area, private pool, terrace and a fully equipped pantry. Moreover, the interiors use natural materials and a warm neutral palette that responds directly to the lagoon environment. In particular, the overwater orbs create an acoustic environment — water below, open sky above — that standard overwater bungalows at more developed Red Sea resorts do not replicate.
Experiences and Facilities
Shebara centres its activity programme on the marine environment. Diving, snorkelling and sailing form the core of the outdoor offer. The reef’s proximity means guided dives produce encounters that many purpose-built dive resorts cannot match. Additionally, a nature-inspired spa with five treatment rooms provides a complementary indoor offer. Family and adults-only pool areas allow different rhythms across the same property. Furthermore, the dining programme draws on local Red Sea seafood and Saudi culinary traditions, using fresh ingredients from the mainland with direct reference to the surrounding marine geography.
When to Visit
Shebara operates year-round. The Red Sea’s enclosed geography keeps water temperatures comfortable in every month. Diving is, however, most energising between October and May when water temperatures cool slightly. October through April also allows overland travel between Shebara and the rest of Saudi Arabia without inland summer heat. Shebara opened only in late 2024. Consequently, visitor numbers remain low relative to what they will become. The current window offers the island in a condition of relative quiet that will not last indefinitely.
Combining Shebara with Other Arabia Destinations
Shebara works as three nights within a wider Saudi Arabia journey. The movement from AlUla’s sandstone desert to the Al Wajh Lagoon covers two of Saudi Arabia’s most distinctive landscapes in a single circuit. Additionally, combining Shebara with Six Senses Southern Dunes gives the Red Sea portion of a journey two contrasting registers — island marine on one side and inland dune wellness on the other. For travellers with more time, Aseer Highlands to the south therefore adds the mountain dimension that completes the full geographical range of the Kingdom’s western corridor.
For the Red Sea: Red Sea
For Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia
For the full Arabian Peninsula: Arabia by Oloi Shorua
If you are considering Shebara as part of an Arabian journey, we would be pleased to begin with a conversation.
Shebara — shebara.sa
Red Sea Global — redseaglobal.com