Africa and the Middle East
2025 New Hotel Openings
In the Middle East and Africa, whether it’s the raw magic of an African safari, the stillness of the desert, or the vastness of the sea, the experience is expansive and transformative. The new hotels and lodges opening in 2025 reflect that—places that aren’t just about where you stay, but how you experience the land, the culture, and the people who call it home.
This year’s openings lean into a deeper connection with the environment, whether through conservation-focused safari camps, off-grid desert retreats, or coastal escapes designed to blur the line between indoors and out. Thoughtful design is at the forefront, drawing from indigenous materials, centuries-old craftsmanship, and architectural traditions that feel both timeless and completely of the moment. And sustainability isn’t an afterthought—it’s woven into the foundation, from rewilding efforts and renewable energy to low-impact luxury that proves responsible travel and indulgence can go hand in hand.
These places aren’t just somewhere to sleep; they’re an invitation to slow down, look closer, and experience a part of the world that has long defined what it means to journey with purpose.
AndBeyond Suyian Lodge
Laikipia, Kenya
AndBeyond Suyian Lodge in Kenya’s Laikipia region offers luxurious, nature-inspired accommodations within a 44,000-acre conservancy, blending Samburu-inspired design with conservation efforts and immersive wildlife experiences.
Cheval Blanc Seychelles
Seychelles
Cheval Blanc Seychelles, curled around the Anse Intendance beach on Mahé Island in the Seychelles, embodies an exceptional art of living in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations. All 52 villas offer stunning, uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean.
Few & Far Luvhundo
South Africa
Few & Far Luvhondo, an intimate eco-lodge in South Africa’s Soutpansberg Mountains, offers just six cliffside suites amid ancient baobabs, a solar-powered aerial safari, and a wellness sanctuary, all within the UNESCO-listed Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.
Gorilla Forest Lodge
Uganda
Gorilla Forest Lodge, the only luxury lodge within Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, is undergoing a full transformation ahead of its mid-2025 reopening, featuring redesigned and expanded suites for an intimate gorilla trekking experience.
Six Senses the Palm
Dubai
Six Senses debuts in the UAE with a LEED-certified hotel and residences on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, offering 61 rooms, 162 residences, eco-conscious dining, and a 60,000 sq ft wellness club with a spa, longevity clinic, and beach access.
Chichele Presidential Lodge
Zambia
Set in Zambia’s South Luangwa, the historic Chichele Presidential Lodge—originally built in 1972 for President Kenneth Kaunda—is being reimagined by the team behind Lolebezi and is poised to become the country’s most luxurious safari retreat.
The Malkai
Oman
Opening in autumn 2025, The Malkai offers a luxury, all-inclusive journey through Oman’s diverse landscapes, with just 14 tented pavilions across Barka, the Al Hajar mountains, and Sharqiya Sands, combining adventure, cultural discovery, and sustainability.
J’nane Rumi
Marrakech, Morocco
J’nane Rumi, a boutique 11-room hotel in Marrakech’s La Palmeraie, blends ever-evolving contemporary art with intimate luxury.
Rosewood Amaala
Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Rosewood Amaala, set in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea region, will be a regenerative luxury retreat blending wellness, sustainability, and cutting-edge design, with 110 guest rooms, 25 residences, and a deep commitment to preserving the surrounding ecosystem, including endangered sea turtle habitats.
Bab Samhan
Diriyah, Saudi Arabia
Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Diriyah, pays homage to Saudi Arabia’s heritage with mudbrick architecture, locally inspired design, and curated experiences, offering 134 art-filled rooms, a serene spa, and dining that blends Najdi and Mediterranean flavors, all steps from the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif site.
Mahali Mzuri
Maasai Mara, Kenya
A Virgin Limited, the camp will feature a stunning interior refurbishment of its 12 luxury tents and communal areas, including the dining tent, bar and lounge, and the breathtaking swimming pool overlooking the Great Wildebeest Migration route.
Kazazian Siwa Oasis
Egypt
Kazazian, known for its sleek Nile cruises, is set to open an exclusive 10-room hotel in Egypt’s remote Siwa Oasis, built from ancient white coral and serviced by a private runway for seamless access.
Baine’s Lodge
Botswana
Set to reopen in mid-2025, Botswana’s Baines’ Lodge in the Okavango Delta will offer an intimate, eco-conscious retreat, blending solar-powered sustainability with exclusive game drives, mokoro trips, and community-focused conservation efforts.
Mbamba Camp
Botswana
Safari legend Ralph Bousfield, of Jack’s Camp, is launching a new year-round camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta on the private NG12 concession, featuring 12 vintage-eclectic tents and access to a wildlife-rich area known for sightings of rare species like African wild dogs.
