To believe it we had to see it, and to see it we looked for the best video available today. It is offered by Dreamy Travels and, of course, we’re leaving it at the end of this review. Yes, because this review is about an architectural project that defies the conventions of luxury. It is located some 27 km east of the Red Sea Project’s welcome centre, in the middle of the Hejaz mountain-range, in the arid landscape of the western region of Saudi Arabia. A hotel complex, more than integrated, carved out of the desert mountains, a haven for elite travellers, a bold experiment in bioclimatic design for high impact tourism: Desert Rock Resort.
Architecture of a hotel-experience
As you may have guessed, Desert Rock Resort is one more piece of the Red Sea Project, an initiative that aims to position Saudi Arabia as an international tourist destination. Designed by Oppenheim Architecture, based in Miami, USA, with offices in Basel, Switzerland, and Tirana, Albania, the design takes advantage of local geological formations to embed the villas, suites and some of the common spaces, literally, inside the hollowed-out interior of the rock. Indeed, Desert Rock Resort “echoing ancient Nabatean civilizations that once lived in the region”, one of whose characteristics was their rock-hewn architecture.
The interiors, with finishes of indisputable quality, combine materials from the excavation site itself, in a conscious effort to reduce the impact on the site. For their part, the terraces and openings, which open like eyes in the rock – and also the infinity pools – are perched on the lunar topography to recreate the spectacular panoramic views of the desert. After all, this is part of the charm of a project that joins the trend of hotel-experiences, where the location and the uniqueness of the architecture are the main attraction for international tourists.
Projected rates and determining factors
According to specialised sources, the resort will have 48 villas and suites, although some reports mention up to 64 accommodation units. This divergence could reflect different phases of the project or differences in the classification of the spaces. Although the destination resort has not officially opened and no definitive rates have been published, we can establish a price range based on the unique characteristics of the project, its market positioning and its comparison with similar resort hotels in Saudi Arabia.
Desert Rock Resort is presented as an ultra-luxury establishment, in a remote natural setting and with a limited guest capacity – those who would occupy between 48 and 64 accommodations, we said. This exclusive approach suggests significantly high prices, in line with other tourism assets of Red Sea operator Red Sea Global, such as the St. Regis Red Sea Resort (from $1,800 a night) or the Six Senses Southern Dunes (from $1,500). Villas, with premium amenities, could range from $4,000 to $12,000 per night, depending on their size and location within the resort. Suites, without the privacy of villas, are likely to range from $1,800 to $3,500, in line with luxury offerings at comparable destinations such as the Aman Dubai or the North Island Seychelles.
Scheduled to open later this year (2025), it follows Six Senses Southern Dunes (2023), St. Regis Red Sea Resort (2024) and Nujuma (2024).
For you to see it and believe it, here is what was promised, this video:
Sources: Desert Rock Resort, Oppenheim Architecture, Xataka, Guioteca.
Images: Oppenheim Architecture.
