Saudi Arabia's luxury hotel boom has another big name attached. The Oberoi Sukoonvilas, Wadi Safar is slated to open in the first quarter of 2027, and it will be the very first hotel to welcome guests in Wadi Safar — a dramatic escarpment area near Diriyah, on the edge of Riyadh, that Saudi developers are positioning as a heritage and wellness destination.
The resort is being shaped by two heavyweight design firms. Aedas, the architecture practice behind scores of landmark projects across the Middle East and Asia, is handling the buildings, while London-based studio Blink is doing the interiors. The brief leans heavily on regional architectural tradition: think shaded courtyards, water features and a design that blurs the line between indoor and outdoor living rather than fighting the desert climate.
The food line-up is arguably the most headline-grabbing part. Yatra will serve contemporary Indian food curated by Rohit Ghai, the Michelin-starred chef who made his name in London. Pastry comes courtesy of Lily Vanilli — better known as Lily Vanilli, the London baker with a cult following — who will lead Linnet, a café and bakery concept. There's also Beyla for international cuisine, plus casual poolside eating with views over the escarpment.
Wellbeing gets top billing too, under the banner ASMI by Oberoi. The programme includes signature wellness journeys, hammams, indoor wellness pools and fitness facilities, anchored by a 65-metre infinity pool looking out over Wadi Safar's rocky terrain. Oberoi is clearly betting that quiet, space and scenery will be the draw — a different pitch to the glitzy megaresorts elsewhere on the Saudi slate.
For travellers, this is worth keeping on the radar for a couple of reasons. First, Wadi Safar itself is brand new as a destination, so early guests will see it before the crowds arrive. Second, Oberoi has a track record of properties like the Oberoi Al Zorba and its highly rated hotels in India and Morocco, so expectations for service will be high. If you're already planning a Riyadh trip — perhaps around Diriyah's UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district — this could be a natural base once it opens. Just note the timeline: nothing to book until early 2027, and opening dates in Saudi giga-projects have been known to shift.
