Six Senses Al Ula will be located in a prime position within a spectacular natural oasis sprinkled with lush palm groves and framed by dramatic red-sandstone cliffs
Thailand’s luxury hotel operator Six Senses has become the latest international hotel brand to enter the UNESCO World Heritage site of Al Ula in Saudi Arabia.
According to a press statement, Six Senses has signed a hotel management agreement with Al Ula Development Company, fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), to open Six Senses Al Ula in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
The statement adds that the agreement was signed by Fabien Toscano, Chief Executive Officer of Al Ula Development Company, and Neil Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Six Senses, in the presence of Al Ula Development Company Managing Director Naif AlHamdan.
Set to open in 2027, Six Senses Al Ula will be located in a prime position within a spectacular natural oasis sprinkled with lush palm groves and framed by dramatic red-sandstone cliffs. Home to the ancient Nabatean civilisation, this once important trading destination, strategically placed along the historical spice route connecting east and west, pays homage to centuries of human history and culture.
The company says that the immaculately preserved monumental tombs, replete with elaborately decorated facades dating from the 1st century BC to 1st century AD, make Al Ula the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. Six Senses Al Ula will serve to enhance this thrilling destination by preserving the cultural and architectural treasures on show within its 1.2 million sqm landscape and providing guests a walk-on part amongst the swirl of ancient myths and stories.
With surroundings this magnificent, the 100 guest villas and 25 residences will be built using architectural methods that blend stealthily into it, unadorned by unnecessary fuss yet radiant in their ability to create the ultimate wow factor.
The statement adds that once opened, immersive guest experiences will include strolling freely among Arabian wonders, witnessing the echoes of history etched on tomb walls, and entering another realm of light and beauty as the stars begin to paint the sky. Handcrafted experiences will include sunrise yoga and meditation classes, moon bathing, evening singing bowl ceremonies, and moon and starlit dining.
The statement adds that there will also be opportunities to help preserve the Arabian leopard, an important and symbolic creature in the Kingdom’s culture and ecosystem.
The company says that enhancing the resort’s in-house culinary experiences will be dramatic destination dining possibilities among natural geological rock formations and caves. The walls of the restaurants transplant guests back in time, as they are surrounded by rock drawings dating back thousands of years.
The vision for Six Senses Al Ula will curate a serious yet playful, contemporary interpretation through art collections and installations, sound, and music. It will offer a dynamic immersion into the Nabatean heritage and culture, inspiring relevance to a multi-generational, international audience, says the hotel group.
“Bringing to life the drama and beauty of a site with unprecedented historical and cultural significance is a sensational opportunity. It inspires uncompromising sustainability, well-being, and hospitality that ignites the senses in a way that is profoundly emotional. It is exciting to be a new chapter to AlUla’s legacy,” says Neil Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Six Senses.
Naif AlHamdan, Managing Director of Al Ula Development Company, says that the agreement represents the company’s commitment to increase luxury hospitality offerings in one of the most ancient archaeological sites, adding: “We are working to enrich the hospitality offerings and experiences in Al Ula so that we can enable visitors to explore its rich history amidst its natural picturesque setting,” says AlHamdan.
“We are excited to join hands with Six Senses to open a one-of-a-kind luxury hotel in Al Ula. The venture aligns with our commitment to elevating the hospitality offering in Al Ula and marks another significant stride in our pursuit of sustainable development, contributing to the economic diversification and transformation of Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030,” says Fabien Toscano, Chief Executive Officer of Al Ula Development Company.
