Saudi Arabia has joined the ranks of the world’s finest luxury destinations, with seven hotels awarded coveted Michelin Keys in the guide’s first-ever global ranking.
Just as Michelin Stars define the pinnacle of fine dining, the new Michelin Keys recognise the best hotel experiences on earth — where design, service, and setting combine to create stays of rare distinction.
Unveiled at a ceremony in Paris and broadcast globally, the inaugural Global Michelin Keys Selection marks a major expansion for the iconic brand — extending its 125-year legacy from haute cuisine to world-class hospitality.
Michelin Key hotels in Saudi Arabia
The first global list includes 2,457 hotels across 120 destinations, with Michelin inspectors anonymously assessing properties using five universal criteria that go far beyond amenities.
From One Key hotels offering distinctive stays to Three Key destinations delivering the pinnacle of luxury, the Michelin Keys have become an independent international benchmark for excellence — and a trusted guide for discerning travellers.
Michelin key ratings explained
- One Michelin Key – A very special stay: A hotel with unique character and standout service that goes beyond expectations
- Two Michelin Keys – An exceptional stay: Truly exceptional in every way, operated with care, pride, and distinct personality
- Three Michelin Keys – An extraordinary stay: Among the world’s most remarkable hotels, delivering the ultimate in comfort, service, and style.
Top Saudi hotels
Among the first recipients in the Kingdom are seven Saudi hotels that redefine modern Arabian hospitality — each reflecting the country’s growing prominence as a global travel destination.
Hand-picked by Michelin inspectors for their design, service, and sense of place, these properties embody the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030 to elevate the nation’s tourism landscape and position the Kingdom among the world’s leading luxury destinations.
Two-Michelin Key hotels in Saudi Arabia
Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea
What Michelin said: “To call Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea a destination resort might be stating the obvious; very few of us are going to find ourselves just passing through this expanse of desert in search of a room for the night.
“No, like any Six Senses, you come to Southern Dunes for top-flight luxury in a spectacular setting — here, an oasis-like collection of rooms, suites, and villas, set under tent-like roofs in an otherworldly landscape of rolling dunes, with the Hijaz Mountains in the distance.
“Stylistically, the accommodations strike a remarkable balance, feeling fresh and novel but also warm and traditionally inspired”.
Shebara Resort
What Michelin said: “On a private Red Sea island, Shebara’s mirrored orbs shimmer above the waterline: part architectural spectacle, part low-impact design.
“Inside, the villas are curved, quiet, and fully self-contained, with infinity pools and sea views that seem to dissolve into the horizon.
“Activities range from e-foiling to diving among untouched reefs, but the pace stays personal”.
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
What Michelin said: “On a serene Red Sea archipelago, Nujuma is the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Middle East, a set of sculptural, solar-powered villas spread across sand and sea.
“Built for privacy and exploration, the resort offers diving into one of the world’s least-touched reef systems, alongside detailed encounters with Saudi culture at The Conservation House.
“Stargazing, sailing, and guided walks with resident naturalists round out the pace”.
Desert Rock Resort
What Michelin said: “Tucked into the craggy cliffs of the Hijaz mountains, Desert Rock isn’t just close to nature, it is carved into it.
“Villas and suites are built straight into stone or perched along ridgelines, with private pools and views that stretch across the open desert.
“Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the line between indoors and out, making the landscape part of the experience”.
One-Michelin Key hotels in Saudi Arabia
Banyan Tree AlUla
What Michelin said: “The setting, in the otherworldly Ashar Valley, is extraordinary, and steeped in truly ancient history — and it takes quite a hotel to live up to these surroundings.
“Banyan Tree AlUla, however, is absolutely up to the task.
“Its 47 freestanding villas are draped in tent-like shades, but are solid, permanent structures, containing accommodations that are as luxurious as any resort in the world”.
Waldorf Astoria Jeddah – Qasr Al Sharq
What Michelin said: “Imagine the Saudi Arabian equivalent of the Waldorf-Astoria and you’re well on your way to understanding what sort of place is the Qasr Al Sharq.
“In fact there’s a good reason for the comparison — it just so happens it’s part of the Waldorf-Astoria collection.
“Of course this being Jeddah, rather than New York, you’ll find certain concessions made to the locality; the style, obviously, is more suited to the gateway to Mecca than the gateway to the Upper East Side”.
The St. Regis Red Sea Resort
What Michelin said: “A 25-minute seaplane from the Saudi mainland delivers you to something startlingly serene.
“The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, shaped like a spiral of sand and shell, is the first private island escape to open on the water in this vast, untouched archipelago.
“Designers created the villas, whether perched above coral shallows or pressed into the dune-line, to blend seamlessly into their surroundings”.
Follow us on
