Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea Opens at Shura Island

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island will begin welcoming its first guests on May 20, 2026. The opening marks a significant milestone for Red Sea Global (RSG), as it is the first resort developed through a joint venture within the company’s portfolio to enter the market.

The project was developed as a 50-50 joint venture between RSG and Kingdom Holding Company (KHC). The total cost of the resort was SAR 2.6 billion, which included SAR 2 billion ($522 million) in debt financing provided by Riyad Bank.

The launch represents a shift in RSG’s development model, emphasizing the use of institutional and private sector partnerships to scale the luxury tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.

John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global, stated that the addition of the Four Seasons resort allows the destination to scale its capacity and offerings ahead of one of the busiest travel periods in the calendar.

Pagano noted the commercial importance of the launch, stating:

Launching reservations for the first joint venture-developed resort in our portfolio is also an important commercial milestone for RSG, demonstrating the value of strategic partnerships, the strength of our investment proposition and reflecting growing market confidence in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector.

John Pagano, Group CEO at Red Sea Global

Sarmad Zok, CEO at Kingdom Hotel Investments, a subsidiary of KHC, said the investment reflects a commitment to deploying long-term capital into hospitality and tourism assets. Zok indicated that the development is aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and demonstrates the international appeal of the luxury tourism market in Saudi Arabia.

Greg Djerejian, Group Head of Investments and Group Chief Legal Officer at Red Sea Global, stated that the delivery of the resort signals the quality of opportunities within RSG’s portfolio and the company’s ability to convert investor interest into operating assets.

Resort Specifications and Sustainability

Located at the secluded eastern tip of Shura Island, the resort is surrounded by water on three sides. The property features 149 accommodations and 31 Resort Residences designed to open fully to the outdoors.

Dining options at the resort include:

• Sea Green: Plant-forward specialties and all-day dining.
• Al Forn: Levantine cuisine.
• Spiaggia Restaurant and Pool: Al fresco Italian fare.

The resort incorporates regenerative tourism principles and is powered entirely by renewable energy. It utilizes advanced water and waste management systems intended to minimize environmental impact and support long-term conservation goals.

Regional Tourism Demand and Infrastructure

The opening occurs as RSG expands flight and hospitality capacity. Occupancy levels at The Red Sea destination reached 82% during the final 10 days of Ramadan, and demand is expected to increase further leading up to Eid Al-Adha.

To accommodate this projected demand, RSG is adding 32 additional flights to Red Sea International Airport (RSI) during the holiday period.

Currently, The Red Sea destination has 11 hotels open. Shura Island, described as the heart of the destination, currently has five open resorts, with a total of 11 resorts planned for the island. Six additional resorts are scheduled to open on Shura Island in the coming months, and the island is expected to be fully live in 2026.

Strategic Context of Red Sea Global

Red Sea Global is a PIF company and a vertically integrated real estate developer. Its portfolio includes The Red Sea, which opened in 2023, and AMAALA, which is scheduled to welcome guests in 2026. A third destination, the Thuwal Private Retreat, opened in 2024.

The Red Sea destination covers more than 28,000 square kilometers and an archipelago of over 90 islands. To protect the surrounding ecosystems, RSG has limited development to accommodate no more than 1 million visitors per year at The Red Sea and 500,000 at AMAALA.

The company has set a target of a 30% net conservation benefit by 2040. In addition to tourism developments, RSG is conducting refurbishment works at Al Wajh Airport, which include upgrading the existing terminal and infrastructure and constructing a new international terminal.

Red Sea International Airport currently provides connections from Dubai, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Milan. The airport is positioned within three hours’ flying time for 250 million people and eight hours for 85% of the global population.