Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, opened in May 2024 as the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve property in the Middle East, and the second-ever Ritz-Carlton Reserve globally (the first is in Puerto Rico). The property occupies Ummahat Island in the protected Red Sea archipelago, one of three landmark resorts that opened on these islands in 2023 and 2024. Nujuma's 63 villas are distributed across the island, with a substantial portion positioned over water. The resort was designed by Foster and Partners, the London-based architecture and urbanism firm led by Norman Foster, which shaped the villa design around the shell-like geometry that became Nujuma's signature language. The architectural concept interprets the shells found on the island's beaches and reefs, translating their forms into habitable structures that perch above the sea and curve to follow the natural coastline.

The shell-inspired architecture is not decorative; it drives the structural and spatial logic of every villa. Each overwater villa is a sculptural form with a curved, asymmetrical footprint that resembles a mollusk shell tilted and opened. The structures perch on piloti set into the seabed, with the main living area elevated above the water on cantilevered supports. The external surface features sinuous curves and openings that reference the organic geometry of shells, while the interior follows the pod's geometry with furniture arrangements that echo the curved walls. The design approach is minimalist in ornamentation but maximalist in form: the villa's shape is the architecture, rather than a neutral box decorated afterward. Foster and Partners worked with Wimberly Interiors to ensure that the interior spatial arrangement responds to the shell form, with built-in elements, furniture, and finishes that follow the curvature rather than fight it. The result is a series of villas where interior and exterior are integrated, not competing.

The 63 villas at Nujuma are split between overwater and beachfront locations, though the exact count of overwater units is not publicly disclosed; estimates range from 30 to 40 overwater villas, with the remainder positioned on white sand beaches. Each villa is offered in one, two, or three-bedroom configurations. The total footprint of a typical overwater villa, including deck and internal spaces, is in the range of 200 to 280 square meters. The internal living area comprises the bedroom or bedrooms, a full living and dining area, and a spa-like bathroom with a soaking tub and rainfall shower. The external deck is substantial: a continuous terrace surrounds much of the pod, integrated into the shell form and featuring curved benches, lounging areas, and direct sightlines to the sea. The deck includes a private infinity pool positioned to spill toward the horizon. Unlike the carved concrete decks at Shebara, Nujuma's decks are lined with teak wood in curves and radiating patterns that emphasize the shell morphology and provide thermal comfort underfoot.

Access to water from the overwater villas is direct. Each villa has an entry platform and ladder into the sea, set into the base of the structure or via a short gangway. Nujuma designed a "ring walkway" that connects the overwater villas to each other and to the central resort infrastructure (restaurants, spa, lobby), elevated on pilings above the water. This elevated walkway allows guests to move between villas and toward the main resort without touching the reef or sand; a practical consideration in an environmentally sensitive zone and a design choice that preserves the sense of floating isolation when you are inside your villa. The walkway also serves as an arrival sequence: disembarking from the boat that transfers guests to the island, the ring walkway guides them through the overwater landscape, building anticipation as they approach their individual villa. This sequencing is distinct from the jetty-walk experience at other overwater resorts; the entire path is suspended over water, creating a meditative transition into the island.

The reef below Nujuma's overwater villas is one of the most critical features and one of the most closely protected. Ummahat Island sits within a marine protected area of the Red Sea, surrounded by thriving coral ecosystems that have never been damaged by heavy tourism. The villas were positioned to sit above existing reef topography, with pilings drilled into the seabed without requiring coral removal or dredging. Each villa's location was chosen to maximize reef exposure while minimizing environmental footprint. Guests in the overwater villas literally float above active coral gardens; the panoramic windows and open decks frame views directly down into the ecosystem below. The clarity of the water, the depth of the reef, and the abundance of fish and coral species create an aquarium-like environment visible directly from the villa without entering the water. This is not a constructed lagoon or a monitored dive site; it is a functioning ecosystem that guests observe from above.

The interior experience of a Nujuma overwater villa is calibrated around the shell concept and the promise of privacy combined with openness. Each villa features wall-to-wall windows with panoramic views; the curved walls of the shell form maximize the perimeter that meets the exterior, so windows dominate the sightlines rather than walls. The bedroom is oriented to capture the best views while maintaining privacy; the bed is a focal point and often positioned to frame the sea view from beneath the covers. The bathroom is a secondary highlight: the soaking tub is placed in front of a window, allowing guests to bathe while looking out to the Red Sea. Furnishings are custom-designed to follow the shell curvature; straight-line furniture would conflict with the curved walls, so every piece responds to the spatial geometry. The palette is warm and minimal: natural stone, teak, leather, and bronze accents. Lighting is soft and adjustable, designed to adapt from daylight to evening without harsh transitions. Air conditioning is sophisticated enough to cool the villas efficiently despite the curved form and extensive glazing that would typically compromise thermal performance.

The privacy between Nujuma's overwater villas is a design achievement. While villas are positioned close enough to the ring walkway for easy access, they are arranged to minimize visual overlap. The shell forms are oriented and positioned so that direct sightlines into a neighbor's deck or bedroom are rare. Mangrove landscaping on the islands and strategic mounding also screen villas from each other. The acoustic experience is remarkably quiet; the elevated position above the water means less ambient noise from the resort, and the density of villas is low compared to some tropical overwater properties. Conversations on your deck do not carry to adjacent villas; the water itself and the separation created by the landscaping absorb sound.

The overwater villa pricing at Nujuma is substantially higher than the beachfront villas. Beachfront villas at the resort start around USD 2,500 to 3,000 per night, depending on bedroom count and season. Overwater villas command a premium of 30 to 50 percent above comparable beachfront configurations, placing overwater nightly rates in the USD 3,200 to 4,500 range for a one or two-bedroom configuration. Three-bedroom overwater villas exceed USD 5,000 per night. These rates place Nujuma at the ultra-luxury tier of overwater accommodation globally. The premium reflects the exclusivity of the Foster and Partners design, the ultra-low villa density on the island, the white-glove Ritz-Carlton Reserve service model (each villa is assigned a personal host and butler), and the pristine reef ecosystem that surrounds each villa. All-inclusive rates or meal plans are available; à la carte dining and beverages are priced at five-star resort levels.

Nujuma's overwater villas represent a sophisticated interpretation of the overwater villa concept. Rather than replicating the Maldivian beach-bungalow archetype scaled up to luxury, Foster and Partners reimagined the form around the island's own ecology and the shell-inspired language of the region. The villas are genuinely contemporary architecture, not nostalgic or themed. The building method is engineered and precise, the spatial arrangement is thoughtful and responsive, and the environmental integration is non-negotiable. Guests choosing Nujuma are selecting a property where the architectural experience is central to the value proposition. The shell form, the panoramic views, the direct reef access, and the personalized service are woven together into a cohesive experience that does not separate the villa from its setting or the architecture from the landscape.

The overwater villas at Nujuma are bookable directly through the Ritz-Carlton Reserve website or via the dedicated sales team at Sales.nujuma@ritzcarlton.com. Lead time is typically 2 to 4 months for peak seasons (November through March). Opening rates started at USD 2,100 per night for beachfront accommodations; overwater villas were positioned at the premium tier from the first availability window.