Sharaan by Jean Nouvel: Saudi Arabia plans sensational luxury resort in the desert

Saudi Arabia wants to turn the fascinating desert region around the oasis of al-Ula with the hardly known UNESCO world cultural heritage site Hegra into a new world-class tourist hotspot. As a first step, a breathtaking luxury resort is planned, as it was previously only known from science fiction movies. The designs for the unique project, which are now being presented to the public for the first time, are by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel.

In order not to compromise the cultural heritage and the fascinating landscape with its rugged sandstone formations, the “Sharaan by Jean Nouvel” will be built inside a huge rock. From the outside it will only be recognizable by a circular courtyard sunk deep into the mountain and a gigantic gate. The stone balconies, on the other hand, seem to merge with the surroundings, as two YouTube videos here and here show. There are plans for 40 suites and three villas. Completion is scheduled for 2024.

The al-Ula oasis is located in the very northwest of the country – about 400 kilometers from Medina and 1,100 kilometers from the capital Riyadh. 2,000 years ago, the commercial metropolis of Hegra in the Nabataean kingdom was located here, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. More than 100 monumental rock tombs, which were artfully carved into the sandstone between the first century BC and the first century AD, are still preserved – some in astonishingly good condition.

Jean Nouvel was also inspired by the Nabataeans by integrating their ancient ways of life into his project. In this way, the guests are to embark on a journey through the millennia in every detail – from the “eternal feel of the rocks to the soft comfort of the armchairs and sofas”, as one broadcast states. The aim of “Sharaan by Jean Nouvel” is “to reconnect with the earth and create sustainable habitats – far away from the heat of summer and the cold of winter”. Saudi Arabia is expecting two million visitors per year in al-Ula by 2035.

Click here for the al-Ula website