Latest news with #DesertRockResort
Vogue Arabia
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Editor's Letter: Celebrating Saudi Women, Creativity, and Cultural Evolution
Welcome to our annual Saudi issue, a themed edition of Vogue Arabia that pays homage to the Kingdom. If you might recall, our inaugural issue was published in June 2018, the month that women were allowed to start driving. Our cover – featuring HRH Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah Al Saud behind the wheel of a red convertible in the desert of Jeddah – was talked about globally, and it is still a favourite of mine. But so many things have changed since then… Saudi Arabia has done an incredible job in establishing its creative industries, and supporting art and fashion. While doing so, new policies and changes in mentalities have finally placed women at the centre of this cultural zeitgeist. I recently heard an impressive intervention by HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, that I believe sums it up perfectly: 'The women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we're not tokens. We're not boxes to tick. We're women who are dedicated to the development, not just of our country, but of our families, and our neighbourhoods. And if we thrive, ladies and gentlemen, I promise you the women of the world thrive, because we all deserve the path forward.' With a country bursting with talent – and spectacular landscapes – putting together this issue was an exciting creative challenge. We started at the Red Sea, against the scenic beauty of the Desert Rock Resort, where we profiled three young Saudi models taking Arab beauty to international runways. In Taif, we met Nora Alharthi, the female entrepreneur breaking glass ceilings and establishing her business in the male-dominated world of the rose industry. In Riyadh, we caught up with fashion designer Ahmed Hassan, cofounder of KML, one of the semi-finalists for the world-renowned LVMH Prize. And, we stopped by London to photograph the latest pre-fall trends on DJ Nooriyah, whose accolades include a historical performance at Glastonbury. Although I still remember visiting Saudi years back when the country didn't offer tourist visas, things now have changed drastically, with the Kingdom eager to welcome guests and proudly display its legacy and history. Personally, I was always greeted with a smile, as Saudis are known for their generous hospitality. Surely, this was the same level of welcome experienced by Georgina Rodríguez and Cristiano Ronaldo, the country's news-making residents. For our cover story, we joined Rodríguez as she got ready for her first-ever Met Gala in New York City, and invited football's biggest icon to conduct the intimate interview. Between coffee and hairspray, they discuss family life and the pros and cons of being in the spotlight, and look back at two eventful years of living in the Kingdom. I hope you enjoy reading.
Vogue Arabia
14-05-2025
- Vogue Arabia
Rare Regality: Inside Saudi Arabia's Desert Rock Resort
I never imagined that I would one day find myself waking up inside a mountain, surrounded by the stillness of the Saudi desert, in a villa sculpted directly from the rock itself. Desert Rock Resort, part of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Global project, is not just another high-end destination – it's a paradox. Here, amid the raw, untamed landscape, opulence is not imposed but embedded, seamlessly woven into the earth. Driving towards Desert Rock and venturing into the rocky terrain, I questioned whether I was really approaching a five-star resort. The usual grandeur of sweeping driveways and gilded lobbies was absent. Instead, I was greeted by towering rock formations and an entrance so discreet it nearly vanished into the terrain. It was a revelation – luxury here does not announce itself; it whispers. Designed by Oppenheim Architecture, the resort is a masterclass in minimalism. Its very essence respects the land it inhabits, and painstakingly blends into the surroundings that I barely noticed the structures at first. 'Rather than imposing architecture onto the terrain, we allowed the land to guide the design,' says Chad Oppenheim, founding principal of Oppenheim Architecture, who is the visionary behind other notable projects such as Ayla Golf Club in Aqaba, Jordan, and Besa Museum in Tirana, Albania. The resort does not seek to dominate its surroundings; instead, it invites you to dissolve into them. 'The idea was never to build 'on' the land, but rather 'with' it – sculpting spaces into the rock, allowing the natural topography to dictate forms,' Oppenheim notes. Photo: Desert Rock Resort
Arab News
06-02-2025
- Arab News
Inside Red Sea Global's newly opened Desert Rock Resort
RED SEA: As Saudi Arabia expands its portfolio of luxury hotel offerings, the newly opened Desert Rock Resort stands out for its otherworldly terrain and exceptional service. There will be no quibbling about the benefits of Saudi Arabia versus the Maldives here — an issue that has crept up when potential visitors discuss Red Sea Global's other outposts, such as the futuristic overwater resort Shebara. When it comes to Desert Rock there is simply nowhere else like it and the resort has leaned in heavily to make use of the spectacular landscape. Set amid humbling mountains pockmarked with caves, the resort is a 20-minute drive from Red Sea International airport. Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied) Home to 32 Wadi Villas on the valley floor, 17 Cliff Hanging Villas, four Mountain Crevice Villas, one Royal Villa and and 10 Mountain Cave Suites carved into the rockface itself — yes, it's as mind-boggling as it sounds — the hotel boasts private, temperature-controlled pools in every room and amenities that go a long way to helping guests understand the eye-watering price tag — Dyson hairdryers, Frette sheets and an array of luxe poolside accessories — while an assigned 'Villa Host' takes care of your every need via WhatsApp. While the mountain-top Cave Suites and their views of endless rolling deserts and soaring rust-colored mountains are an influencer's ticket to viral fame, the two-bedroom Mountain Crevice Skyline Villa is ideal for a larger group — with a conversation-starting bathtub (it fit at least five giddy, fully-clothed adults on our press tour) and glass-ringed fire pit. Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied) Descend to the valley floor and Oppenheim Architecture's bunker-like structures melt into the Martian landscape. Use your chic wooden key card — the details are everything at Desert Rock — and you'll be met by cozy interiors by Toronto's Studio Paolo Ferrari. Earthy tones, a focus on luxury stone and bronze-brown accents make the large villas and suites opulent without losing the warmth of the desert. A pool, kids' club and star-gazing evenings are complemented by the Akun adventure hub, which offers thrilling ziplining, via ferrata, abseiling, rock climbing and archery, with more activities planned for 2025. Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied) A team is on hand to keep visitors safe, but this is no easy experience — we climbed up to the ziplining jump off point on the bare mountain face, at some points resorting to all fours as we followed a rough path hewn into the rock that often became no path at all. That refusal to bend to lazy luxury is also shown in the 622 steps one can climb to the highest point of the hotel, an observatory reached by crossing a rope bridge at a dizzying height. The lack of a lift was a wise choice –— it may not be easily accessible but that is exactly what makes the astounding view once there so worth it. Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied) The flipside, of course, is that certain areas of the resort are not accessible for guests with physical disabilities. It's also important to note that — due to the space this hotel takes up — travel between rooms, restaurants and the spa is usually by buggy. Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied) The four main eateries — NYRA, helmed by Turkish chef Osman Sezener whose restaurant in Bodrum has one Michelin star; MICA, a buzzy mocktail bar that also offers small plates; breakfast spot Basalt, which transforms into an Indian eatery at night; and the poolside Wadi that offers Peruvian cuisine — rival the brightest stars in the Gulf's major cities, with NYRA and Wadi standing out for their fresh, colorful dishes including tender beef tongue and artfully presented seafood plates. Many of the courses were presented with specific beverage pairings that drew out the flavors of their accompanying dish and pushed experimental mocktails to heights not before experienced by this writer. Round that all off with a spa that boasts views of soaring, craggy cliffs, as well as indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a water therapy room and a couple's hammam room, and you've got the ideal recipe for a serene sojourn in the Saudi desert.
