Killa Design Shebara Resort - Sheybarah Island - Saudi Arabia

Shebara is a 73-key hyper luxury eco resort located in Saudi Arabia and developed by Red Sea Global. The island has a highly diverse environment with dense mangroves, desert flora, 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 the Saudi Arabian shoreline, the whole resort is only accessible by water or air. The design and planning of the project are a direct result of Red Sea Global's vision and aspiration to develop an exquisite luxury guest-centric destination, setting new standards for sustainable development and hospitality.

All 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 aims to preserve the natural environment of the island and minimise any damage to the island, its coral, and wildlife. The design is inspired by the creation from the sea, creating a string of pearls at Shebara in the Red Sea.

Shebara is a wonderful example of what is possible when creating environmentally sustainable yet meaningful design. It demonstrates how innovative architecture can gracefully flow into nature, with orbs that reflect and refract light from the sky and the sea to naturally blend with its environment. 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 goes into making the project a truly self-sustained human development. There will be an active program on the site, involving guests for regenerative mangrove expansion, coral gardening, and enhancing turtle nesting in educational programmes.

The social responsibility of Shebara island resort is to improve the education and work opportunities for the rural local inhabitants within the area, and in particular, improving diversification and empowering local Saudi women throughout its colleague programme. Environmental conservation is a key pillar of the project, strictly adhering to the UNWTO goals for sustainable development. The self-sustaining development will include its own 110,000sqm solar farm, desalination and reverse osmosis plant, sewage and water reclamation treatment plants, eco-friendly recyclable materials, environmentally native landscaping, and only electric land and marine vehicles allowed within the resort, resulting in a “zero” energy, water, waste, and transport impacts. Each villa was constructed off-site to minimise environmental disruption. Inclusive of regenerative mangroves, coral, and fish life to substantially improve the natural surroundings.

The primary goal of the project was to determine the best way to preserve and enhance the biodiversity surrounding the habitat, 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 environment footprint by cantilevering the accommodation spaces above the regenerative coral gardening within the protected lagoon, and set back over 50m from the natural coral reef with only a few square meters of ground impact at the base of the supporting column. The result is an aerial accommodation pod that almost seems to defy gravity and suspends the guest directly above and within the beauty and untouched marine ecosystem, providing an observation platform for guests to witness the fish, birds, and turtles that thrive in the area.

About Killa Design

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.

Photo credit: © Red Sea Global 2026