The Red Sea EDITION Review 2026: Forbes' Best New Hotel in the World
Ian Schrager's first Saudi Arabia hotel opened on Shura Island in November 2025. Forbes immediately named it the best new hotel opening in the world. We review what that actually means.
The most talked-about new hotel on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea — and it earns the attention.
The EDITION is a different kind of Red Sea resort. Where the St. Regis and Nujuma emphasise privacy and service, the EDITION emphasises design and social energy. Both are valid. Neither is the wrong choice — they are answering different questions about what a Red Sea stay should feel like.
Rooms
240
Opened
November 2025
From
~$900/night
Best for
Design, social, beach club
The Ian Schrager Philosophy: Lobby as Theatre
EDITION hotels apply Ian Schrager's foundational hospitality insight: that the lobby is not an arrival space, it is the primary social environment of the hotel. Every design decision in an EDITION property is made in service of activating the public spaces — making them feel charged, kinetic, and worth lingering in. The private rooms are secondary to this logic.
At the Red Sea EDITION, this translates to a lobby that opens toward the water, uses natural light deliberately (the Red Sea light at this latitude is extraordinary — clear, golden, and directional in a way that creates drama without any artificial assistance), and is furnished as a social stage rather than a waiting room. The bar is the focal point; the seating invites extended stays; the music programme is as curated as the hotel's material design.
The Beach Club: The EDITION's Most Defining Feature
The EDITION's beach club is the experience most guests discuss first. It operates as a day-use facility open to non-hotel guests (by reservation and a day fee), which is deliberately unusual for a Red Sea resort — the island resorts of St. Regis and Nujuma are strictly accessible only to staying guests. This decision gives the EDITION's beach a social energy that private island resorts cannot replicate.
The beach club programme extends beyond sunbeds: DJ sets at sunset, pop-up dining experiences, and the visual spectacle of the Red Sea reef visible through the clear water off the beach edge. Snorkelling directly from the beach accesses a section of reef that has been protected as part of the Red Sea Project's conservation mandate.
Who Should Choose the EDITION Over St. Regis or Nujuma?
The Red Sea EDITION is the right choice for guests who: want the most visually striking new hotel on the Red Sea; value design and atmosphere alongside privacy; want beach club access and a social experience; are culturally interested in the EDITION brand philosophy; or are travelling in a larger group or with friends who want a shared social environment.
St. Regis and Nujuma are right for guests who: want absolute privacy and butler-level service; prefer overwater villas above the reef to beach access; are visiting as a couple primarily focused on intimacy; or who want a more traditional luxury resort experience. A split-stay across the EDITION and St. Regis (2 nights EDITION, 3 nights St. Regis) represents the most complete Red Sea experience currently available.
Book the Red Sea EDITION
As a new opening, the EDITION is building its following quickly. Peak dates fill faster than any new resort in recent memory.
Red Sea EDITION — Common Questions
Why did Forbes name the Red Sea EDITION the best new hotel in the world?+
Forbes Travel Guide named The Red Sea EDITION the best new hotel opening of 2026 for its combination of Ian Schrager's distinctive design philosophy (the lobby as a theatrical social stage), the quality of its coral reef location on Shura Island, the beach club's concept and execution, and the overall property's statement as the first EDITION hotel in Saudi Arabia — a market that has become one of the most significant in global luxury hospitality.
How much does the Red Sea EDITION cost per night?+
The Red Sea EDITION rates start at approximately $800–$1,200 per night, positioning it as more accessible than the ultra-exclusive Nujuma Reserve or St. Regis, while offering a distinctly different experience. The EDITION is a social, design-forward resort rather than an intimate private island — the price reflects this. Beach club day passes are available separately for day visitors.
What is the difference between the Red Sea EDITION and St. Regis Red Sea?+
The Red Sea EDITION (social, design-forward, Ian Schrager aesthetic, beach club culture, 240 rooms) and the St. Regis Red Sea (butler service, overwater villas, intimate luxury, seaplane-only access) serve fundamentally different traveller profiles. The EDITION is for guests who want a vibrant, design-conscious resort with a social atmosphere. St. Regis is for guests who want private island exclusivity and the traditional luxury hotel service model. Both are on Shura Island, making a split-stay between them genuinely practical.
Who is Ian Schrager and why does it matter for the EDITION?+
Ian Schrager co-founded Studio 54 in New York and later created the boutique hotel concept at properties including the Morgans, the Royalton, and Hudson. His EDITION brand, co-developed with Marriott International, applies his 'theatre of hospitality' philosophy — the lobby as the primary social experience, design as guest service, and an atmosphere that feels energised rather than hushed. At the Red Sea EDITION, this means the arrival and public spaces are the dominant design statement, not the private rooms.
Compare Red Sea Resorts
St. Regis Red Sea Resort
Butler service · Overwater villas · Private island
Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
63 villas only · One host per stay · Ultra-intimate
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Forbes' best new hotel in the world — beach club, coral reef, and Ian Schrager's design philosophy on Shura Island.
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