Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Review: A Secluded Star in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea

In the cerulean embrace of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea, where the horizon dissolves into an endless shimmer of blue, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, emerges like a mirage—one that lingers, beguilingly real. The resort’s name, meaning "stars" in Arabic, is fitting: here, luxury is celestial, the setting otherworldly, and the experience quietly revolutionary.

This is not merely another overwater villa retreat. Nujuma is Saudi Arabia’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, a brand synonymous with rarefied exclusivity, and it arrives as part of the kingdom’s ambitious Red Sea Global project—a bid to transform its untapped coastline into a sanctuary for discerning travelers. The vision is grand, but the execution is intimate: just 63 villas, each a masterclass in understated elegance, scattered across the Ummahat Islands like pearls on a private strand.

The Setting: A Desert Island Dream

Arrival is by seaplane or yacht, a journey that heightens the sense of escape. The resort’s design, by Foster + Partners, is a study in harmony—domed villas, their curves echoing seashells, rise from the water and sand with an almost organic grace. The effect is futuristic yet timeless, as if these structures have always belonged here.

The Ummahat archipelago itself is pristine, fringed by mangroves teeming with life—halavi guitarfish flit through shallow waters, green turtles glide past coral gardens, and seabirds trace lazy arcs overhead. Beyond the shoreline lies the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef, a submerged Eden where spinner dolphins and dugongs make their home.

The Villas: Sanctuary by the Sea

Whether perched on stilts above the water or nestled along powder-soft sands, each villa is a private oasis. The interiors are a marriage of modern minimalism and Saudi craftsmanship: arched ceilings evoke desert dunes, handwoven textiles nod to Bedouin traditions, and telescopes invite nights spent mapping constellations from the terrace.

Overwater Villas: Connected by a striking circular jetty, these offer uninterrupted views of the Red Sea’s shifting hues.
Beach Villas: Framed by swaying grasses, they blur the line between indoors and out, with infinity pools that merge into the horizon.

A dedicated host attends to every whim—be it a sunset cruise, a private beach dinner, or a last-minute craving for dates and cardamom-spiced coffee.

Dining: Where Global Technique Meets Local Soul

The culinary program, orchestrated by former Michelin-starred chef Lucas Julien-Vauzelle, is a revelation. Saudi flavors are reimagined with French precision, resulting in dishes that feel both familiar and thrillingly new.

Tabrah: The property’s seafood restaurant, which as you’d guess didn’t have many plant-based menu items.
Sita: By day, it’s a Levantine haven—think warm flatbread from the clay oven which stole the show. By afternoon, it morphs into a patisserie, its vegan pain perdu a dream.
Maia: A celestial-themed lounge where mocktails (the hibiscus-kissed Sun House Sipper) are crafted with the care of fine cocktails.

Not a single dish feels perfunctory. Even the hummus, velvety and faintly smoky, lingers in memory.

Adventure and Deep Connection

The real magic of Nujuma lies beyond its villas. The resident naturalist, Sean Laughlin (a Steve Irwin-esque font of enthusiasm), leads mangrove walks, pointing out rare rays and nesting turtles. Snorkelers float above coral forests where Napoleon wrasse and Arabian angelfish dart like living jewels.

For a deeper cultural immersion, Conservation House offers quiet moments with artifacts, books on falconry, and conversations on Saudi heritage over cardamom coffee. Come nightfall, guests gather on the beach as astrologer Habib Bafeil traces constellations with a laser pointer, recounting ancient tales of the Thurayya (Seven Sisters) cluster.

The Spa: Healing in Harmony with Nature

At Neyrah Spa, wellness is both ritual and retreat. Therapies draw from global traditions—sound healing, lunar yoga, hammam scrubs—but the most transcendent might be the massages, where AlUla-sourced moringa oil is kneaded into skin to the rhythm of lapping waves.

The Final Verdict: A New Benchmark

Nujuma is a statement. Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions are often framed in superlatives, but here, the grandeur feels personal. The service is intuitive, the design quietly brilliant, and the setting so untouched it’s humbling.

For those who seek seclusion without sacrifice, who crave adventure alongside indulgence,

Nujuma redefines expectations. The Maldives may have long ruled the overwater villa domain, but the Red Sea, with resorts like this, is no longer content to linger in its shadow.

The Luxe Insider Tips

Villa Choice: Only 20 overwater villas exist—book one for direct sea access.
Mocktail: Order The Sun House Sipper (hibiscus, vanilla, citrus) at Maia.
Marine Life: The reef is home to 165 fish species—snorkel early for the clearest visibility.
Cultural Insight: Visit Conservation House for artifacts and talks on Saudi heritage.
Spa: Therapies use AlUla-sourced moringa oil—opt for a massage with ocean sounds.
Stargazing: Attend Habib Bafeil’s laser-guided storytelling about the Thurayya constellation.

To stay here is to understand why stars, in Arabic, are called nujum…because some places belong to the heavens. Our recommendation is to book immediately!