After a reader vote, The Red Sea EDITION on Saudi Arabia’s Shura Island beat out competitors including the Orient Express La Minerva and Waldorf Astoria New York.
The Red Sea EDITION has just been named the best new hotel in the world for 2025 by Forbes Travel Guide.
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Located in Saudi Arabia, the property is part of a wider tourism megaproject along the Red Sea coast first announced in 2017.
So far, the project has seen the opening of several gorgeous new resorts in the area including Six Senses Southern Dunes and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. The EDITION was one of three to open on Shura Island, the project’s main hub, last year, alongside the InterContinental and SLS.
Now in its third year, the shortlist for this year’s Forbes Travel Guide’s best new hotel opening gong also included Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica; Orient Express La Minerva in Rome; Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur; and Waldorf Astoria New York.
While the shortlist was decided by an executive editorial committee, the final choice was decided by an online survey of readers.
What’s so special about The Red Sea EDITION?
Part of the Marriott Group, The EDITION brand is known for its modern, simple designs, with each property meant to reflect the location it is in. The one unifying factor, aside from five-star service, is its signature scent, a mix of black tea, bergamot and cedarwood that you can’t help but love.
In the case of The Red Sea EDITION, the 240-key resort has been inspired by the local landscape, with earth walls, coral stone floors and natural oak all forming part of a colour palette meant to reflect the nearby canyons, coral reefs and dunes. Guest rooms either overlook the Red Sea or Shura Links, the island’s 18-hole golf course.
One of the property highlights is undoubtedly the spa, featuring a recovery dome with an infrared sauna, heated stone loungers, a snow shower and a lymphatic shower.
Outside of relaxing in the spa, in the sea or by the pool, guests can dine their way around the property’s four (soon to be five) restaurants, which include the Bali-inspired JIWA Beach Club and Central, an all-day dining spot focusing on American cuisine.
What’s next for The Red Sea project?
So far, nine resorts have opened in The Red Sea, but by 2030, there will be 50 hotels across 22 islands and six sites on the mainland.
Brands that have confirmed they will be opening properties in the area include Fairmont, Four Seasons, Rosewood and Jumeirah, although no opening dates have been announced as of yet.
In March, ADRENA, a new adventure and entertainment district is set to open. Found near Shura Island, the destination offers a mix of watersports and land activities, with a saltwater surf pool, a wakeboarding lake, a skatepark and an overwater zip line.
