Six Senses Southern Dunes was the first property to open in The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s ambitious regenerative tourism project, and so expectations are high.
Now, alongside The St Regis Red Sea, it’s one of only two hotels in the area, which is eventually set to span 28,000 square kilometres, with myriad luxury resorts on more than 90 islands.
The National checked in to a one-bedroom pool villa to see if the project lives up to the hype.
Due to a technical glitch on our plane from the UAE – which has us turning back to Dubai mid-flight and having to board a second aircraft hours later – we arrive at the hotel at midnight.
We land at Yanbu International Airport, which is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the hotel, so we fall asleep in the car and wake up to see the low-rise resort entrance beautifully lit up, appearing like a mirage in the desert surrounded by the pitch-black night sky.
A small team is there to welcome us, including our Guest Experience Maker, Hazal, who stays late just to greet us.
We are given a refreshing welcome beverage and within minutes we’re checked in and whisked off in a buggy to our villa, where we are swiftly left to crash on the comfortable king-size bed.
The neighbourhood
The Red Sea is a new tourism project from Red Sea Global, located a couple of hours’ drive north of Yanbu and five hours from Madinah.
Red Sea International Airport opened in September, but currently only flights from Riyadh and Jeddah arrive there with the airline Saudia – and they’re few and far between.
The resort, like any Six Senses property, is secluded. It is and will be the only hotel in the development that is set amid the dunes, with only one more located inland (in the mountains) and the rest by the sea.
Those dunes are where the property gets its name, as it’s completely surrounded by them in every direction, offering a unique desert escape. You can also spy the Red Sea in the distance.
The room
There are 36 guest rooms and suites, and 40 pool villas, with accommodation ranging from one to four bedrooms. We stay in a one-bedroom pool villa, which can be reached via buggy.
The villa – which has a living and dining area, bedroom, one toilet and one bathroom – is decorated with natural materials and textures reflecting the design throughout the hotel, which focuses on sustainability and the local environment and culture.
The bed faces floor-to-ceiling sliding windows, which lead to the villa’s own terrace and infinity-style heated pool that looks out on to that stunning dune-filled, almost-Moon-like landscape.
The bathroom is a highlight, with a spacious his-and-hers vanity, separate toilet, vast indoor shower with two rain-shower heads, then another outdoor shower with a wooden gate that opens on to the terrace.
The generously sized soaking-style bathtub sits in front of a window, offering a glorious view of the desert.
The commitment to sustainability is evident throughout, from the reusable water bottle to the toothpaste tablets and the unbranded, refillable toiletries sourced from a local supplier.
The service
General manager Fredrik Blomqvist has spent years working for Four Seasons properties around the world. He tells us he believes people make a place. You can build incredible, luxury hotels anywhere, but the service can also be bad anywhere, he says.
This message has clearly reached the staff, who are very polite, friendly and helpful, reflecting the hospitable nature of the Saudi people, who make up at least 45 per cent of the hotel staff.
The Guest Experience Maker role is a wonderful touch. Each guest is assigned someone who will customise their itinerary and ensure every whim is catered for.
Hazal, who takes care of us throughout our stay, is always in touch to make sure everything is going well and to plan, asking whether we need anything, and even anticipating what we might need before we even know we need it. Case in point: She orders me a pot of ginger, turmeric and black pepper tea upon hearing me cough.