Rising like a constellation of liquid mercury from the turquoise embrace of the Red Sea, the Shebara Resort on Sheybarah Island represents a breathtaking fusion of innovative design, audacious engineering, and profound environmental stewardship. Designed by Dubai-based Killa Design and brought to life by developer Red Sea Global, this luxury resort is not merely a destination; it’s a paradigm-shifting statement about the future of sustainable resort development and ultra luxury design.
Located approximately 25 kilometres off Saudi Arabia’s developing west coast, the resort’s 73 villas – comprising 38 Overwater Villas and 35 Beachfront Villas, crowned by a spectacular Royal Villa – appear as a sinuous string of polished orbs. Inspired by the natural formation of pearls, these structures are crafted entirely from polished stainless steel. Their mirror-finished facades dynamically reflect and refract the surrounding sky, sea, and the island’s pristine ecosystems of dense mangroves, desert flora, rolling white sand dunes, turtle nesting grounds, and vibrant coral reefs. The effect is mesmerizing: the villas seem to dissolve into the horizon, especially when cantilevered dramatically over the water, creating the illusion of floating weightlessly.
Beyond its striking visual poetry, Shebara Resort sets a formidable new benchmark for sustainability. Targeting LEED Platinum certification, the self-sufficient eco-resort is powered by its own dedicated solar farm. It boasts an on-site desalination plant for fresh water and implements a circular waste management system, drastically reducing the need for material transport to and from the remote island and minimizing operational carbon emissions. This holistic approach positions Shebara as a flagship project aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, demonstrating how ambitious economic development can coexist with deep respect for nature and heritage.
The challenge of crafting interiors within these uniquely curved, reflective shells fell to Studio Paolo Ferrari. Their interior design masterfully navigates the tension between the resort’s avant-garde architecture and the essential comforts of luxury hospitality. “There’s often an expectation to design environments that have never been seen before,” notes Paolo Ferrari. “Only focusing on that approach, however, one risks taking a project too far and making it alien. That impetus needs to be tempered by elements that are timeless.” The result is a holistic interior design that balances the sublime and the familiar.
Custom furnishings are central to this vision. Elongated sofas and curvilinear bed frames with integrated nightstands provide visually grounding anchors within the futuristic volumes. The undisputed stars, however, are the resort’s signature cantilevered bar cabinets. Appearing as enigmatic, amorphous monoliths finished in mirrored steel or high-gloss wood, they hug concave walls. Their true nature is revealed only upon the silent, automated activation of hydraulic doors, unveiling meticulously layered crimson red leather or polished steel interiors. “They’re these mesmerizing and perplexing things,” Ferrari describes. “This is the invention in the room; the never-before-seen thing.” Despite their nascent forms, these objects were realized using highly specialized craft techniques, ensuring a tangible connection to the handmade.
The Royal Villa, conceived as two intersecting orbs spanning nearly 3000 square feet, exemplifies this approach on a grand scale. Guests enter through discreet apertures into a living lounge dominated by large, lacquered wood base sofas curving like a grounding nest. A monumental, cantilevered bar cabinet clad in mirror steel takes center stage, its hydraulic doors revealing a dazzling stainless steel interior. Rich materials abound: bronze inlay details warm leather-clad walls, while the principal suite’s bathroom features a spectacular carved onyx bathtub illuminated by a skylight. The vanity itself is a feat – a cantilevered polished steel plinth following the wall’s curve, balanced on a softly aerodynamic pedestal.
Within the Overwater Villas, a similar sense of resplendent seamless spatial distribution prevails. Open-plan bathrooms feature amorphous articulations of reflective materials, amplifying natural light. Leather-clad walls with sinuous bronze inlays contour the complex curves, concealing refined closets. Polished steel appears in organically formed armchair bases and standing lamps, while cast-glass pendants and a joisted linen-upholstered sofa evoke timeless craftsmanship, contrasting beautifully with the futuristic shell.
Shebara Resort, through the visionary architecture of Killa Design and the sophisticated interior design of Studio Paolo Ferrari, transcends conventional hospitality. It is a self-sufficient marvel – a solar powered resort harnessing the elements. Its stainless steel villas are not just dwellings but environmental chameleons. It proves that ultra luxury and radical sustainability are not mutually exclusive but can be seamlessly integrated. This is more than a getaway; it’s a glimpse into a responsible, breathtakingly beautiful future for luxury resort design, where innovation serves both awe-inspiring aesthetics and planetary respect. The future of eco-resorts has arrived, shimmering on the Red Sea horizon.