With 38 overwater villas and 35 beachfront retreats, the newly opened luxury resort is set on a series of uninhabited islands on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.

By Jim Dobson | August 2025

On a chain of untouched islands off Saudi Arabia’s Tabuk Province, Shebara Resort rises from the Red Sea like something out of a science fiction movie. Created by Dubai-based Killa Design and developed by Red Sea Global, the enclave of 38 overwater villas and 35 beachfront retreats is a remarkable experiment in radical architecture. From above, the orb-shaped villas resemble a string of pearls casually lying across the lagoon, their mirrored shells reflecting the sky and sea until the boundary between building and landscape nearly vanishes.

For famed designer Paolo Ferrari, founder of Toronto’s Studio Paolo Ferrari, the challenge was to ensure the interiors matched the resort’s otherworldly exterior. “We began with the idea of natural futurism,” Ferrari tells me. “We wanted the spaces to feel forward-looking but grounded in minerality, nature, and craft. It was always about balancing refined engineering with the warmth of something human and handmade.”

That philosophy comes alive the moment you step inside. Curved walls embrace sculptural furnishings, such as sofas that bend with the architecture, bed frames that grow seamlessly into nightstands, and a monolithic bar cabinet that opens hydraulically to reveal a red leather interior. “Every detail is a negotiation between engineering and artistry,” Ferrari explains. “Circular mirrors float like planets above vanities, glass pendants hover like droplets over onyx dining tables, and baths mimic the tidal flow outside. It’s about creating an environment that feels both elemental and extraterrestrial.”

Material choices became central to Shebera’s visual aesthetic. “We made an early decision to use polished stainless steel inside as a key anchoring material,” Ferrari recalls. “That choice alone pushed the resort into a new direction. It takes barefoot luxury and flips it on its head. You don’t expect to see stainless steel in a villa, and suddenly it feels refined, radical, and fresh.”

Perhaps the most unusual feature is the in-room bar. At first glance, it looks like a suspended steel orb, its purpose entirely mysterious. “We wanted an object that was iconic, almost sculptural,” Ferrari says. “Only when you touch the hidden buttons does it open, revealing a leather-wrapped interior. It’s an entirely new way to think about hospitality design-something functional becoming the room’s most surprising, memorable gesture.”

The beachfront villas have the same futuristic design but emphasize the wider space with expansive terraces, infinity pools, and a seamless flow between sand and sea—the most exclusive residences, the Crown and Royal Villas, occupy their own islets. “In the Royal Villa, the bed itself is carved from a single block of onyx,” Ferrari notes. “That’s where you really see the level of craft and ambition in this project. Its architecture expressed through furniture, furniture expressed through architecture.”

While design is Shebara’s showstopper, the guest experience is another bonus. Rockwell Group designed the property’s stunning pool, spa, and public spaces to complement the overall futuristic vibe. Guests can choose between five signature restaurants, from Michelin Chef Marco Garfagnini’s Mediterranean Ariamare to the Japanese-Nikkei concept iki.roe, or retreat to the large spa offering pearl and caviar treatments with a meteorite scrub. Other activities include yoga pavilions, underwater adventures, a dedicated kids club, a large infinity pool, and a cutting-edge gym.

But perhaps most important is Shebara’s ecological focus. The entire resort runs off-grid, powered by its own solar farm, desalination plant, and circular waste management system, earning LEED Platinum certification. “We wanted to design something astonishing, yes, but also something responsible,” says Ferrari. “The mirrored architecture doesn’t impose- it reflects back the coral reef, the mangroves, the desert. It disappears into the very landscape it celebrates.”

Accessible from its own dedicated Red Sea International Airport, a quick seaplane ride or a 40-minute boat ride from Turtle Bay, Shebara feels like another planet. For Ferrari, it represents a new frontier in hospitality design. “There’s a ubiquity in how luxury resorts are often approached,” he says. “Here, we wanted to subvert that to create something iconic, futuristic, but still undeniably human. A place where architecture, nature, and craft are all in dialogue.”

Shebara is not just another island resort. It is a thrilling experiment at the edge of the Red Sea, where avant-garde design and ecological responsibility mix, and where, as Ferrari puts it, “luxury doesn’t just meet nature-it mirrors it.”

What strikes you first is the futurism so prevalent in architect Shaun Killa’s vision. With Shebara Resort opening in November 2024, it has set new standards for the region. Step inside to experience an innovative luxury resort with a focus on sustainability.

By Thor Svaboe | August 2025

Cropping up as if naturally grown from Sheybarah island’s minimal landscape, the resort offers 73 private villas, with some nestled in the soft dunes by the beach and others hovering above the crystal-clear water, pod-like, as if beamed down to their shoreline perches. Shebara Resort was created through a partnership of renowned architects and hospitality experts, dedicated to fostering both luxury and environmental stewardship.

Whether you choose a beachside abode or an overwater, pod-like villa, the feeling will be one of quiet seclusion, with a space-age vibe and a high level of service. Plus, each villa comes with its own butler. Whether you want to book one of the resort’s restaurants or go on a snorkelling trip, the butler is just a quick WhatsApp message away.

Whether you choose a beachside abode or an overwater, pod-like villa, the feeling will be one of quiet seclusion, with a space-age vibe and a high level of service. Plus, each villa comes with its own butler. Whether you want to book one of the resort’s restaurants or go on a snorkelling trip, the butler is just a quick WhatsApp message away.

Travellers accustomed to this level of service will be used to the Maldives and the Egyptian side of the Red Sea, but Shebara Resort sets new standards for the Saudi shores. If you’re into snorkelling, the house reef at Shebara offer colourful, healthy corals and abundant aquatic life, with a choice of restaurants to wind down after a day under the waves. The resort offers numerous dining options; the Japanese Iki Roe restaurant has already garnered travellers’ praise as one of the standout choices.

Guests can enjoy breakfast by the family pool at Lunara, though the inimitable vista from each villa makes an in-house option very tempting. And, if your villa is one of the beachside options, starting the day with the zen-inducing rhythm of a healthy meal (and sunrise by your private pool) is equally appealing.

Killa Design, a Dubai-based architecture firm, is renowned for its innovative and futuristic designs that redefine modern landscapes. Founded by Shaun Killa, the firm specializes in sustainable, cutting-edge architecture, with projects spanning luxury resorts, commercial towers, and cultural landmarks. Killa Design’s work often integrates bold geometric forms with environmental sensitivity, making it a key player in shaping the architectural identity of the Gulf region.

The Shebara Resort has opened on Saudi Arabia‘s Red Sea coast, featuring mirrored orbs developed by Killa Design and interiors by Studio Paolo Ferrari that were crafted to make best use of the complex curved dimensions.

June 2025

Shebara is a luxury resort set on a series of uninhabited islands off the coast of Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia. The resort comprises a string of 38 overwater villas and 35 beachfront retreats that aim to immerse guests in the natural surroundings.

Architecture studio Killa Design oversaw the architecture project for developer Red Sea Global, which described the resort as a self-sufficient, solar-powered destination “where barefoot luxury meets conservation.”

The overwater villas were designed to evoke a string of pearls, with each polished stainless-steel orb reflecting the sea and sky. The one-bedroom villas have an internal floor area of 103 square metres, while the two-bedroom versions measure 189 square metres.

Guests enter the pods through openings carved into one side. Living spaces and bedrooms are arranged on either side of the central entrance, with glass sliding doors creating a seamless connection with the outdoor patios and infinity pools.

The same architectural form was used for the beachfront villas, which follow similar dimensions and layouts but provide larger outdoor spaces overlooking the beach and sea.

In addition to the one- and two-bedroom villas, Shebara also offers two collections of properties set on their own private islets. The Crown Villas Ensemble and Royal Villas Ensemble both feature three one-bedroom villas and a three- or four-bedroom villa with exclusive beach access.

Toronto-based Studio Paolo Ferrari was responsible for the resort’s interior design, which seeks to balance timeless elements with furniture and finishes that complement the architecture’s progressive design language.

“There’s something transcendent about the resort, taking us back to dream-like cinematic sequences,” said the studio’s principal Paolo Ferrari.

“We were tasked with creating something extremely forward-looking and captivatingly enigmatic, but wanted to ensure the guest experience still felt crafted and natural.”

Shebara’s unusually shaped architectural forms prompted the need for a highly bespoke solution that responds to the complexity of the internal dimensions.

“The relationship between the interior architecture and furnishings, as well as finishes, was studied in detail,” Ferrari explained.

“Headroom clearance, proximity to the curving walls and ceiling planes, and the compressed proportion on the perimeter was impossible to address strictly in plan and had to be fully explored in three dimensions.”

The interiors feature custom furnishings, including elongated sofas and curvilinear bed frames that follow the concave walls. These elements were handcrafted in materials such as stainless steel or high-gloss wood to emphasise their sculptural forms.

Spaces are delineated by built-in and free-standing furnishings, with leather-clad walls featuring bronze inlay used to create partitions between rooms where required.

The furniture is designed with dynamic lines that echo the architectural forms. Organically shaped sofas and armchairs are complemented by metal standing lamps and glass pendants suspended above the onyx-topped dining tables.

Each Shebara villa contains a monolithic wall-mounted bar cabinet rendered in mirrored steel. The reflective pods incorporate automated hydraulic doors that open to reveal an interior lined with red leather.

“They’re these mesmerising and perplexing things,” Ferrari said of the cabinets. “This is the invention in the room; the never-before-seen thing.”

The amorphous furniture designs aim to showcase quality craftsmanship and engineering, as well as introducing familiar natural forms and materials that juxtapose with the otherworldly architecture.

For the bedrooms, Ferrari’s firm designed bed frames that follow the curve of the wall and incorporate nightstands into their cascading forms.

The beds in the Overwater Villas are finished in stainless steel, leather and mirrored glass, while the bed in the Royal Villa’s principal suite is carved from solid onyx.

Bathroom fixtures designed for the project include cantilevered circular mirrors, vanities in solid oak or mirror-polished steel, and monolithic freestanding baths with flowing forms.

The islands that make up the Shebara resort sit within a coral reef surrounded by an ecosystem consisting of mangroves, sand dunes, sea grasses and desert flora.

The development has a LEED-Platinum environmental rating, due to its use of renewable energy from an onsite solar farm, as well as a desalination plant and circular waste management system that the developer said makes it mostly self-sufficient.

Shebara is the latest project by Killa Design. The studio is best known for designing the distinctive Museum of the Future in Dubai, which consists of an elongated ring decorated with Arabic calligraphy.

Studio Paolo Ferrari’s previous projects include a cinematic interior for a Toronto restaurant and a cannabis dispensary featuring mirrored ceilings and custom-made sniff jars.

Amid a flurry of high-profile openings in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Red Sea development, homegrown Saudi project Shebara Resort stands out with its futuristic design.

March 2025

But then, the future is something architect Shaun Killa, founder of the Dubai-based firm Killa Design, contemplates often: he was the mastermind behind Dubai’s landmark Museum of the Future. At Shebara Resort, overwater villas clad in polished stainless steel with sinuous mirrored silhouettes resemble a string of pearls skimming above the waves. “We wanted to reflect the sky and the lagoon and the coral below—whether it’s sunrise or a cloudy day or an orange sky, they’re constantly changing,” Killa says. “They blend into nature although they’re highly futuristic.” While it’s no rustic beach retreat, it’s very much an eco-sensitive escape: all 73 villas were constructed in Sharjah, UAE, and shipped over so as not to disrupt the delicate ecosystem of mangroves and coral reefs with building activity, and the island is entirely powered by a solar park, with more than 1 million square feet of solar panels that guests are invited to bike through. “We want people to get excited about the fact they are on an island that’s 100% powered from the sun,” Killa says. His latest project, Dubai’s long-awaited Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, sees him coming full circle: he first arrived in Dubai more than 25 years ago to work on Jumeirah’s iconic, sail-inspired Burj Al Arab. The new 386-room hotel, with a façade modeled after a yacht, joins that and the wave-shaped Jumeirah Beach Hotelto complete the hospitality brand’s trio of maritime properties.

Rising from the turquoise waters of the Red Sea, the gleaming orbs of Shebara Resort appear weightless, radiating an ethereal glow.

By Aneesha Rai| March 2025

Designed by Killa Design – the visionary firm behind Dubai’s Museum of the Future – this retreat seamlessly blends cutting-edge engineering with the organic beauty of its surroundings. At the heart of Shebara’s design lies an inspired architectural concept: a series of shimmering, stainless steel orbs that house the resort’s 73 villas. The overwater properties, linked in a graceful chain, appear as if floating on the sea, evoking a string of pearls. The beach villas reflect the golden sands, mirroring the shifting hues of the sky. “They’re almost like bubbles that come up from the ocean floor, reflecting everything that’s above them,” says Shaun Killa, founder and design director of Killa Design. “When you look at Shebara, it reveals itself from the water.”

Suspended above the waves, the resort’s overwater villas offer a connection to the marine ecosystem. Set 50 metres from the natural coral reef, the villas rest on minimal structural supports, reducing their environmental impact. “Each overwater villa is like an observation platform for guests to witness the fish, birds and turtles that thrive in this area,” says Killa.

Shebara’s sustainable ethos extends beyond its architectural footprint. Constructed off-site and assembled with a modular ‘plug-in’ approach, the villas integrate seamlessly into a solar-powered, zero-energy infrastructure. “The offshore construction methodology was implemented to preserve the natural environment of the island, minimising any potential impact to coral and wildlife,” adds Killa. Surrounded by Sheybarah Island’s pristine mangroves and coral reefs, the resort operates entirely off-grid. A state-of-the-art solar farm provides 100% of the resort’s energy needs, powering desalination, cooling, lighting and transportation. The solar installation itself is an architectural statement, arranged in a circular pattern that complements the resort’s flowing design. Walking and biking paths guide guests through this innovative energy landscape, turning sustainability into an immersive experience. “The entire infrastructural backbone of the project forms part of a visitor experience where guests can be exposed to, and learn about, the approach that has made the project a truly self-sustained development,” says Killa.

Designed by Studio Paolo Ferrari, Shebara’s interiors embrace a philosophy of ‘Natural Futurism,’ straddling futurism and timelessness. Drawing inspiration from the protective shell of a sea urchin, Ferrari’s team crafted interiors that contrast the orbs’ sleek exteriors with soft, cocooning spaces. The studio leaned into aerodynamics and movement to create soft and tailored interiors. With the sea’s vibrant blues outside, the studio embraced a restrained interior palette, allowing nature to take centre stage. “Our idea is to frame the water, and to let nature be the real focus,” shares Paolo Ferrari, the studio’s founder. Echoing the precision of yacht and aviation design, Shebara’s interiors are meticulously crafted. Curved surfaces necessitated advanced 3D modelling techniques to optimise space and ensure the seamless integration of furnishings. “How we maximise space in a villa like this is similar to how you design a private jet or yacht, where you have to maximise every square inch,” says Ferrari. 

Material selection was driven by a desire to harmonise with the natural surroundings. Soft leather, warm wood and hand-crafted details enhance the villas’ intimate, human-centred atmosphere. “The result is a space that feels both futuristic and timeless,” shares Ferrari. By merging avant-garde design with ecological sensitivity, Shebara offers an unparalleled experience where architecture and nature exist in perfect symbiosis.

Reservations are now open for stays at Shebara, a prime destination in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea, offering timeless experiences in an extraordinary setting.

October 2024

Red Sea Global, the developer behind regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, is excited to announce that Saudi Arabia’s newest luxury resort, Shebara, and the fourth to open its doors at The Red Sea destination will be welcoming guests from November 2024.

Shebara, the first to open of RSG’s owned and operated resorts, is built to offer luxury, sustainability, and innovation converging to redefine how tourism is delivered. The resort provides direct access to an extraordinary marine environment where guests can enjoy diving in some of the most pristine, biodiverse waters in the world.

Its unrivalled hospitality is rooted in the Saudi tradition of Hafawah – which encapsulates generosity, consideration, and kindness – offering guests unique, timeless, and extraordinary experiences.

The stunning Red Sea setting will ensure guests are provided with an experience far beyond the ordinary. Shebara’s 73 overwater and beachfront villas shimmer in the bright sunshine, appearing as if they were a string of pearls floating above the turquoise waters of the Red Sea.

Beyond the unparalleled natural beauty that surrounds the resort, Shebara invites guests to immerse themselves in luxury, from taking advantage of the premium amenities, including a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, to experiencing exceptional cuisine, delivered by world-class chefs, such as Michelin starred Marco Garfagnini. Guests can also enjoy an exceptional nature-inspired spa sanctuary with 5 luxurious treatment rooms, all while being able to relax and reset, surrounded by sun, sea, and glorious soft, white sand.

Through its leading approach to sustainability, Shebara seamlessly combines its unique architecture – take one-of a kind, stainless-steel orbs, which fade into the horizon as the surface refracts the light – with the island’s natural environment. Home to its own solar farm and an array of integrated utilities, the resort represents everything that Red Sea Global stands for as a responsible developer.

Shebara is a year-round destination with cool summer temperatures. Located 25 kilometres from the mainland, the resort can be reached by a 30 to 40-minute boat ride or a 30-minute seaplane flight from Red Sea International Airport (RSI). This relative isolation provides a sanctuary for those seeking an extraordinary escape into nature and wellness.

RSI is situated within three hours’ flying time of 250 million people and eight hours’ flying time for 8% of the world’s population, has been receiving a regular schedule of domestic flights since September 2023. International flights began in April 2024, with a twice-weekly route between The Red Sea and Dubai International.

Now taking reservations

Reservations are now open for stays at Shebara and to celebrate its grand opening, the resort has an exciting introductory offer. For a limited time only, with all bookings of two consecutive nights, a third night will be offered on a complimentary basis.

Bookings and enquiries can be made via the resort website.

Located in the Red Sea, the hotel boasts spectacular overwater villas.

By Kohinoor Sahota – Editor | October 2024

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea looks set to be one of the world’s most dramatic developments. Shebara Resort is located in the megaproject, and is accessible by boat or seaplane. Now, the latest images have been unveiled, and Shebara Resort is open for reservations.

Shebara Resort is a 45-minute boat ride from the mainland. Located in Al Wajh Lagoon, it aims to offer unparalleled exclusivity. The site will be home to two hotels, including Shebara Resort.

Shebara Resort has been designed by Killa Design. The hotel includes 73 keys, which span beach and overwater villas. The options include a One Bedroom Beach Crown Villa, One Bedroom Overwater Villa, Two Bedroom Beach Villa, and Two Bedroom Overwater Villa.

The stainless-steel orbs create a striking image and not only draw inspiration from but reflect the natural surroundings. Each orb includes a reflective mirror and weighs around 150 tonnes. The inland villas are inspired by the undulating sand dunes. The hotel has been created with eco-materials chosen, and the resort has been powered by a solar energy farm.

With bookings now open, you can take advantage of the special opening offer, where you’ll receive a complimentary third night for every two paid nights, available until Friday, February 28, 2025. This promotion includes daily breakfast for two and is valid for stays starting in November. Rates start from AR 11,000 per night.

The Red Sea Project is expected to cover 28,000 kilometres of islands, beaches, deserts, mountains and even volcanos and be a leading destination for eco-luxury. The plan is to have no waste-to-landfill or single-use plastic and be 100 per cent carbon neutral.

The Red Sea International Airport has been designed by the British architectural firm, Foster + Partners. The structure has been inspired by the desert, oasis and sea, and will feel like a private, personalised terminal.