Killa Design: Winner of World Design Awards 2025. Shebara Resort is a 73-key hyper luxury eco resort located at the southernmost Al Wajh Lagoon within the 91-island Red Sea archipelago, developed by Red Sea Global. The island has a highly diverse environment with dense mangroves, desert flora, sand dunes, turtle nesting and some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.

The exquisite island eco resort offers an off-grid zero energy, water, waste, educational experience and aims to be a “next generation” eco tourist destination providing an unrivalled eco guest experience in an environmentally sensitive and innovative design and in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 of creating a more sustainable future.

Located 25km from Saudi Arabian shoreline, the whole resort is only accessible by water or air. The project design and planning is a direct response to the Red Sea Global’s vision and aspiration to develop an exquisite luxury guest-centric destination, setting new standards for a sustainable development and hospitality experience.

“POWERED BY A CENTRALISED SOLAR FARM OF OVER 100,000SQM”

“FULLY IMMERSED IN UNSPOILT NATURE”

Environmental conservation is a key pillar of the project, strictly adhering to the UNSDG goals for sustainable development. The self-operating complex will include its own 110,000sqm solar farm, desalination and reverse osmosis plant, sewage and water reclamation treatment plants. In addition to it’s facilities, it will be constructed using eco-friendly recyclable materials, environmentally native landscaping, and solely permit the use of electric land and marine vehicles within the resort, resulting in a “zero” energy, water, waste and transport development. Regenerative mangroves, coral and abundant fish life have been introduced to substantially improve the local habitat.

The primary goal of the project was to discover how best to preserve and enhance the biodiversity of the surrounding environment, while offering a luxurious experience that will attract visitors from around the globe and promote Saudi Arabia as a top tier marine eco-tourism destination.

The LEED-Platinum resort seeks to minimise its environmental and literal geographical footprint by cantilevering the accommodation spaces above the regenerative coral gardening within the protected lagoon, with only a few square meters of ground impact at the base of the supporting column that is set back over 50m from the natural coral reef. The result is an aerial accommodation “pod” that almost seems to defy gravity, suspending the guest directly above and within the beauty of the untouched marine eco-system. It acts as an observation platform for guests to witness the plethora of fish, birds and turtles that thrive in the area.

“PROTECTING AND ENHANCING THE ECOSYSTEM”

“ZERO EMISSIONS, ENERGY, WATER AND WASTE”

“TIMELESS ARCHITECTURE”

The geometric ellipsoidal shape of the polished stainless steel villas results in them reflecting the sea and the sky, melting into their surroundings to turn virtually invisible. They elegantly become one with nature throughout the everchanging surroundings, mirroring the environment from dawn to sunset.

The recycling of waste materials takes place on the island, minimising the need to bring or remove materials from the site. The entire infrastructural backbone of the ecological project forms part of a visitor experience where guests can be exposed to and learn about the processes that result in a truly self-sustained human development. There will be an active program on the site dedicated to involving and educating guests in regenerative mangrove expansion, coral gardening and enhancing turtle nesting.

All 73 hotel units flank the southern tip of the island, enjoying unobstructed views of the open sea and sunset. Each unit is an individual villa, either floating above the water or on a private island, providing guests with complete privacy.

All back-of-house services and mechanical facilities are integrated into the environment and placed at remote locations on the island to elevate the untouched experience for the guests. Restaurants, adult and family pools, a full-service spa and gym, as well as private beaches, are all available and specifically spread-out across the island to enhance an idyllic, private and exclusive guest experience. The villas and front-of-house spaces are built offshore and transported to the island, fully commissioned to minimise the impact of the natural beauty of the island.

“DESIGNED TO BE HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO ITS NATURAL HABITAT”

The innovative technology used in the 3D moulding to double bend 4mm thick by 12msq stainless-steel is a world-first of hydraulic stretch tech. It moulds the form and uses laser robotic arm cutting techniques to ensure a seamless external envelope, made possible through highly innovative fusion welding. All the villas are entirely constructed, fitted out and commissioned offshore, and are shipped to site as an almost “plug in” to the solar powered zero energy/water infrastructure. The offshore construction methodology is to preserve the natural environment of the island, and minimising any damage to the island, its coral and wildlife. This was a fundamental decision by Red Sea Global, to have a light touch in creating this eco resort. The resort guest will be immersed within the natural island marine beauty with every activity available within the aquatic and island environment. Full time butler service will be available along with personal electric buggy usage, allowing the guest time and space to engage with nature.

Subtly sublime educational programmes will leave the guest with more than they came with, where possibly they may help to improve environmentally global concerns after their experience.

Location was selected by Red Sea Global for its pristine, un-touched highly diverse natural marine island environment, to project Saudi Arabia’s natural habitat, coral and diverse fish life, as being one of the best diving and eco tourism experiences in the world.

Shebara Island Resort’s commitment to social responsibility extends to improving education and employment opportunities for rural inhabitants, with particular emphasis on developing diversification and empowering local Saudi women through its colleague program. While access is primarily by yacht and seaplane, the resort welcomes both private individuals and families, ensuring accessibility for all with beach villas and public spaces designed to accommodate people of determination.

“THE OVERARCHING VISION IS TO SET A NEW GLOBAL BENCHMARK IN ECOTOURISM AND PROJECT SAUDI ARABIA’S NATURAL BEAUTY AND RICH MARINE BIODIVERSITY TO THE WORLD”

Project Details:-
Firm
Killa Design

Architect
Shaun Killa

Project Name
Shebara Resort

Project Category
Sustainable Building (Built)

Team
Shaun Killa

Project Location
Sheybarah Island, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Country
United Arab Emirates

Photography ©Credit
©Killa Design, © Red Sea Global

Killa Design is dedicated to creating innovative buildings that are timeless, environmentally sustainable, and contextually inspired.

We specialise in mixed-use, high-rise, hospitality, office, and residential projects. We also have significant experience in retail, theatre, museum, urban design, and master planning projects.

With value-led building solutions, cutting-edge and creative thinking, we strive to build strong relationships with our clients by going beyond the brief to help transform their project vision into viable, liveable spaces. Our people are passionate about responsible design and the impact it has on the lives we touch every day.