Killa Design has completed Shebara Resort, a 73-key luxury eco resort on Sheybarah Island in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea. Developed by Red Sea Global, the project sits within an environmentally sensitive island setting defined by mangroves, desert vegetation, dunes, turtle nesting areas and coral reefs.
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Located around 25 kilometers from the Saudi Arabian coastline, the resort is accessible only by water or air. Its architecture responds to the island through a series of reflective villas conceived as a string of pearls emerging from the sea. Their curved metallic surfaces mirror the sky and water, reducing the visual weight of the structures within the protected lagoon.
The villas were constructed, fitted out and commissioned offshore before being transported to the island. This method reduced the amount of construction activity taking place directly on site and helped limit disruption to the surrounding coral, wildlife and vegetation. Each unit connects to the resort’s solar-powered infrastructure once installed.
Killa Design placed many of the accommodation pods above the lagoon, cantilevering them over areas associated with regenerative coral gardening. The villas remain set back more than 50 meters from the natural coral reef and touch the ground through limited structural points. This arrangement allows guests to stay directly above the marine environment while maintaining a reduced physical footprint.
Environmental infrastructure forms a major part of the project. The resort includes a 110,000-square-meter solar farm, desalination and reverse osmosis facilities, sewage treatment and water reclamation systems. Electric vehicles provide transport on land and water, while recyclable materials and native landscaping contribute to the wider sustainability strategy.
Shebara targets zero energy, water, waste and transport impacts and has achieved LEED Platinum certification. The project also incorporates regenerative programs connected to mangrove expansion, coral gardening and turtle nesting.
These systems form part of the guest experience rather than remaining entirely behind the scenes. Educational programming introduces visitors to the resort’s environmental strategies and invites participation in conservation initiatives across the island.
The project also addresses local employment and education, with programs intended to create opportunities for nearby communities and support greater participation by Saudi women within the resort workforce.
With its reflective pods, limited ground contact and off-grid systems, Shebara Resort positions architecture as part of a broader environmental strategy. Killa Design uses the resort’s distinctive form to create a highly recognizable destination while keeping the surrounding marine ecosystem central to how the project operates.
