Limit Phone Use! Wellness Hotel Pioneer Miraval Opens First International Location in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
In June, Hyatt Hotels Corporation brand Miraval Resorts and Spas announced the opening of Miraval The Red Sea on Shura Island off the west coast of Saudi Arabia, marking Miraval's first hotel outside the United States.
Founded in 1995, Miraval is one of the world's first destination wellness resorts to place healing, transformation, and mindfulness at its core. Its first hotel, Miraval Arizona, opened in the desert near Tucson, Arizona, promoting the "Life in Balance" philosophy of physical and mental well-being.
Miraval hotels are adults-only (18+). They have long encouraged guests to limit or even give up electronic devices, creating a quiet, reflective environment. The hotel offers numerous complimentary daily classes, such as equine therapy, aerial yoga, floating meditation, heart-drumming, challenge courses, farm experiences, and nature hikes.
Limiting phone use is a hallmark of Miraval. Personal electronic devices are allowed only in guest rooms and designated phone zones, helping guests "reconnect with themselves."
According to the hotel, "It may be hard to adjust at first, but soon you'll feel free in body and mind. Some guests even don't want to pick up their devices after checking out."
Above: Miraval Red Sea guest room
Above: Miraval's first hotel in Tucson, Arizona
A survey by global nonprofit Humin found that participants reported sustained reductions in stress levels for months after staying at Miraval, regained a sense of belonging, and improved mindfulness, self-awareness, personal resilience, and life meaning.
After joining Hyatt in 2017, Miraval began expanding:
In February 2019, the brand's second hotel, Miraval Austin (below), opened.
In July 2020, the first East Coast hotel, Miraval Berkshires (below), opened.
In 2024, the first standalone spa, Miraval Life in Balance Spa Aviara, opened inside Park Hyatt Aviara, open to non-guests.
Miraval hotel rates start at $718 per night (approximately RMB 4,800), varying by room type and season.
The latest Miraval The Red Sea is a healing resort with 180 guest rooms, suites, and villas. It also features the largest spa on Shura Island with 39 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, offering Saudi-inspired wellness traditions, including hammam experiences, mineral-rich scrubs, and desert-inspired treatments.
In addition to mindfulness meditation, exercise, cultural experiences, and outdoor adventures, Miraval The Red Sea offers unique experiences like Arabic calligraphy, heritage storytelling, perfume blending, and desert stargazing.
The hotel's design incorporates natural landscapes like lagoons and mangroves on Shura Island, using natural materials, desert tones, and coral-inspired forms to achieve a calm environment.
Shura Island (below), developed by Red Sea Global, is the main island among 92 islands in the Red Sea project, emphasizing tranquility, privacy, and sustainable luxury. It also features Saudi Arabia's first island golf course.
Shura Island plans to host 11 luxury resorts, with SLS The Red Sea, InterContinental The Red Sea, and The Red Sea EDITION already open.
| Sources: Official press release, Robb Report, Forbes, redseaglobal.com
| Image credits: Hyatt, Miraval official website