Luxurious Six Senses Southern Dunes Resort as an Oasis in the Middle of Arabian Vast Desert

A short distance from the Red Sea, Six Senses Southern Dunes Resort is an oasis in the middle of the vast desert. The complex, designed by British architectural firm Foster + Partners, is one of the facilities in a larger master plan that includes an international airport, a landscape nursery, and the development of small islands around the coast.

Six Senses Southern Dunes Resort by Foster + Partners (cr: Red Sea Global)       

Luxurious holiday villas in the middle of the desert (cr: Red Sea Global)

The luxurious accommodation is a celebration of Saudi Arabia's unique desert landscape. Six Senses Southern Dunes Resort nestles in a unique setting where the desert meets the mountains, providing spectacular views as one of its main attractions. The team took this potential into greater design consideration while also prioritizing environmental sustainability standards so that it not only provides enjoyment for humans, but also preserves and enhances natural biodiversity.

The desert and the mountains (cr: Red Sea Global)

An oasis (cr: Red Sea Global)

The building mass arrangement took into account the natural topography of the site. A total of 36 rooms and 40 villas are situated in two rows to maximize the views of each unit without causing a major environmental impact. A specialty restaurant stands at the site's highest point to facilitate sunset dining. Each roof is deliberately designed to be low, wide, and flowy with a color that resembles sand, thereby minimizing visual distractions and blending with the beauty of the smooth undulating dunes.

Two rows of villas (cr: Red Sea Global)

The sand-like building color (cr: Red Sea Global)

Petal-shaped canopies mark the entrance, covering a square with various types of lush local plants below. The vegetation improves environmental quality and helps reduce dry temperatures. In addition, each unit also has a private pool—a true oasis for visitors to refresh themselves while being pampered with the stunning views. Furthermore, based on a previous desert project, Foster + Partners highlighted material selection as one of the most important things in controlling the thermal comfort of a space in a dune. The design avoids high thermal mass materials such as stone or concrete that absorb and store heat. Instead, the resort uses light materials such as mud brick, wood, and fabric.

The private pool (cr: Red Sea Global)

Canopies in the entrance (cr: Red Sea Global)

To achieve sustainability, materials are produced off-site to speed up the construction process thereby reducing energy requirements. Apart from carefully calculating the thermal comfort to reduce dependence on artificial cooling, this resort also has a solar power plant to supply electricity needs.

The interior (cr: Red Sea Global)

The bedroom (cr: Red Sea Global)

This 5-star resort in the coastal area of ​​Umluj, Saudi Arabia, has become a new destination for global tourists looking for new experiences in a new natural setting. Its remote location is highly suitable for those who want a short escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.