Neyrah Spa at Nujuma: Saudi Arabia’s Best Resort Spa Two Years Running

The Core Details

• Neyrah Spa is the signature wellness centre at Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, located on the Ummahat Islands in the Saudi Arabian Red Sea, and has been named Best Resort Spa in Saudi Arabia for two consecutive years (World Spa Awards 2024 and 2025) as well as Best Resort Spa in the Middle East for 2025, making it the most recognised resort spa in the region within its first two years of operation.
• Architecture by WATG; interiors by Wimberly Interiors; opened May 2024 on a private island in the Blue Hole cluster of the Ummahat archipelago.
• Treatment menu anchored by Alula Peregrina Moringa oil from AlUla, Voya organic seaweed skincare, and Hydrafacial technology, alongside a traditional hammam.
• Daily ritual programme includes sunrise yoga, lunar yoga, sound healing attuned to desert frequencies, meditation, and breathing workshops.
• Reservations: nujumareserve.com or ritzcarlton.com/nujuma.

Architecture and Spatial Design

The resort takes its name from the Arabic word for “stars,” and that origin is not decorative. Above the Ummahat Islands, the night sky is free of light pollution in a way that most modern travellers never encounter, and Nujuma has built its entire identity around that celestial canopy. Every villa carries a private telescope; the cultural programming references the tradition of astronomical navigation that once oriented nomadic tribes across the Arabian Peninsula. Neyrah Spa inherits this framing directly, conceived as what the property describes as a “celestial guide for balance and renewal.”

Wimberly Interiors designed the spa in close dialogue with WATG’s architectural vision for the wider resort, working to a brief that called explicitly for “barefoot luxury.” Rope-woven roofs flow from exterior to interior without interruption, dissolving the boundary between the built structure and the naturally enhanced landscape beyond. The sequence of architectural forms is not incidental; it is the primary means by which the spa conveys its character before a single treatment begins.

At the reception, a copper pool sits beneath a glass drop pendant that refracts light across the space throughout the day, establishing the prevailing tone: tranquil, reflective, without display. Beyond it, treatment rooms open directly onto a sweeping beach, each furnished with its own change facilities and outdoor terrace. Interior finishes are drawn entirely from the region: carved detailed joinery, reeded finish ceilings, and a natural material palette that grounds the guest experience in a specific geography. The scent of oud drifts through the rooms, tying the sensory register to one of Saudi Arabia’s most defining aromatic traditions.

Ingredient Sourcing and Treatment Philosophy

Neyrah Spa’s most deliberate departure from the regional spa category lies in how it constructs its treatment menu. Rather than relying on international spa product lines with no local relevance, the spa has built formal partnerships with Saudi and regional brands whose ingredients are grounded in the same landscape that surrounds the property. Alula Peregrina supplies Moringa Peregrina tree oil sourced from AlUla, whose active molecules have drawn significant attention in international wellness markets. The choice is not cosmetic; it places a specifically Saudi raw material at the centre of the therapeutic offering.

Voya, the Irish organic seaweed skincare line, brings a coastal dimension that complements the Red Sea setting. Hydrafacial’s device-led facial technology sits alongside the traditional hammam on the same menu, allowing guests to layer contemporary skincare science into a broader journey structured around regional ritual. Body scrubs, wraps, facials, and massages form the treatment core, with each offering traceable to a deliberate ingredient or methodology decision rather than a generic international formulation.

Daily Rituals and Programme Depth

The spa’s daily ritual programme is where the celestial concept moves from architecture into practice. Sunrise yoga is offered at first light, the traditional moment for personal renewal. Lunar yoga, a signature Neyrah offering, is designed to align guests with the rhythms of the sun and moon that give the resort its name. Sound healing is attuned specifically to desert frequencies, drawing on the acoustic geography of the surrounding region. Meditation sessions and breathing technique workshops are offered daily, frequently woven into personalised wellness itineraries. Guests are guided throughout by dedicated wellness experts.

For those seeking a structured multi-day framework, the HWH Retreat at Nujuma programme combines treatments, daily rituals, and cultural experiences into a fully choreographed itinerary. Beyond the spa itself, the wider resort extends the wellness proposition through overwater and beach villas, four signature restaurants offering a fusion of Arabian and refined French flavours, private astronomer-led stargazing sessions, and a Conservation House dedicated to Saudi cultural heritage. Spa Director Laura Lishman summarised the intent with the 2025 awards: “To be named both the best in Saudi Arabia and the best in the Middle East is an extraordinary honour, especially as we continue to establish ourselves in the global spa landscape. These awards recognise the incredible passion of our team, who bring the spirit of the Reserve to life every day. We are committed to creating meaningful, restorative experiences that connect our guests to the beauty and tranquility of Nujuma.”

For reservations and further information, visit Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve directly.

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