Wellness — quiet wellness, the type that heals something within you — is a true luxury. And in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has been quietly and steadily building oasis after oasis of properties that put healthy living, longevity and mindful rituals at the forefront.
Ask any wellness enthusiast and they’ll expertly rattle off countless names of It resorts that promise transformative escapes and clinically-backed rejuvenation. But believe it or not, what’s coming is even more compelling than the addresses that are already on everyone’s radar. Below, discover four upcoming sanctuaries in the kingdom that are set to redefine the future of holistic travel.
Azulik
Location: AlUla
Opening date: 2027
Why it’s special: Azulik’s upcoming AlUla property brings a picturesque slice of serenity to the rugged canyons of Saudi Arabia. Located within the Nabatean Horizon District of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s Journey Through Time masterplan, the retreat will feature 76 sculptural villas, a specialised spa focused on ancestral healing practices and its very own Sfer Ik museum dedicated to contemporary art and nature. In the words of Roth Azulik, the self-taught mastermind behind the Mexican hospitality brand, “Azulik and Sfer Ik are like nomad camps from hundreds or thousands of years ago: a place to pause, to rest from life’s journey, to share, to remember what we came to this planet to accomplish by looking at those monumental landscapes.”
At Azulik, guests will discover wellness integrated completely with nature. Inspired by its surrounding sandstone cliffs, the resort’s flowing architecture will be crafted from layered natural materials and fibres, designed to exist in harmony with the terrain. Ancient rock art inscriptions will remain preserved throughout the property, while existing waterways are to be integrated to support irrigation and flood protection in alignment with AlUla’s Sustainability Charter and Vision 2030.
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Keeping clean living at the forefront of its mission, the hotel will also replace all private vehicles with its own all-electric mobility system. Activities will include horse, camel and hiking trails to encourage a slower, more intentional pace of healing.
Envi Al Shafa
Location: Taif
Opening date: Late 2026/Early 2027
Why it’s special: This winter, the rocky mountains of Taif beckon as wellness retreat Envi Al Shafa opens its doors in the City of Roses.
Designed to harmonise with its surroundings, Envi Al Shafa comprises 35 rustic villas, marking the kingdom’s first high-altitude eco-lodge. Offering panoramic views of the landscape, the property invites visitors to slow down and leave the hubbub of their 9-to-5 lives to reconnect with themselves.
Among the key highlights is its two-storey wellness centre, which, co-founder Noelle Homsy explains, is home to several thoughtfully designed spaces including a mindfulness studio, hammam house and a herbal tea and alchemy bar. “The cooking studio brings families together for a shared experience and sits adjacent to the Envi garden, where fresh herbs and plants can be picked by guests to be included in kitchen dishes,” she explains. “The creative studio will also offer hands-on workshops from rose petal pressing to pottery and other projects designed for mindfulness, self-expression, and family connection.”
Envi Al Shafa’s high-altitude location – over 2,000 metres up in the mountains of Al Shafa, near Mecca and Jeddah – makes it the perfect spot for those looking to reconnect with nature. “Guests can relax in the rose garden outside the library or engage in our obstacle course,” Homsy shares. “They can also experience our barefoot sensory path, a grounding and earthing ritual that is a signature feature, while younger visitors can enjoy time in the mud kitchen which encourages imaginative play and hands-on interaction with natural elements.” Nothing is off the table in the great outdoors – the setting allows for a plethora of wellness experiences.
By Nitya Chablani VOGUE Arabia
