Travel / news
Nujuma Joins Ritz-Carlton Reserve Portfolio on Saudi Arabia's Ummahat Island
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, has opened on Ummahat Island in the Red Sea, becoming part of a global collection of only nine Reserve estates. The private island retreat sits within the Blue Hole cluster, served by the carbon-neutral Red Sea International Airport.
The property occupies Ummahat Island in the azure waters off northwestern Saudi Arabia, set among the Blue Hole cluster of islands where coral reefs lie below the surface. The resort is the latest addition to the Ritz-Carlton Reserve group, which numbers just nine estates worldwide.
The wider Red Sea destination is ringed by what the source describes as the world's fourth-largest barrier reef system, spread across an archipelago of more than 90 islands. It forms part of Saudi Arabia's luxury regenerative tourism programme.
Access is via Red Sea International Airport, described as the first carbon-neutral airport in the Middle East and powered entirely by on-site solar energy. Designed by Foster + Partners, it features pod-style departure suites and an internal green oasis styled as a manicured botanical garden, with personalised service for all passengers.
Scheduled direct flights currently connect the airport with Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha and Dubai, and Abu Dhabi is expected to be added in October 2026.
Further airlift is planned from Europe: all-business-class carrier beOnd will launch seasonal direct flights from December 2026 linking The Red Sea with Milan, London, Paris, Zurich and Munich.
Guests at the retreat are positioned to explore the surrounding reefs and islands, with the destination pitching itself on encounters that connect visitors more deeply to the location.