2025 is set to become a landmark year for luxury hotels and we start our global New Hotel and Resort Openings series in Africa and the Middle East. Poised to redefine luxury and architectural grandeur and combine with sustainability and unique offerings, here is a look at 9 properties which have been confirmed to open next year in Africa and the Middle East.
Photo Credit: courtesy of Saruni Basecamp
Opening January 2025 Basecamp Samburu affords guests the opportunity to discover Kenya’s wildlife in the hidden northern landscape of Samburu. Get off the beaten path at this exclusive five-tented luxury safari camp featuring once-in-a-lifetime sleepout starbeds, including open-air jacuzzi for adventure lovers who want to sleep out under the African sky. Basecamp Samburu is nestled in a serene valley in Kalama Conservancy with breathtaking views of the majestic Mt. Ololokwe is built with eco-friendly materials sourced locally and echoes the early safaris of the 1920s, with its under-canvas tented camp experience.
Photo credit: @MamaShelter
Scheduled to open January 2025, Mama Shelter Dubai will be the brand’s 19th hotel and first in the Middle East. The property will open with 197 rooms and 204 apartments, multiple dining options, an outdoor Cine´Mama (which is their outdoor movie theater) and many other amenities. Located in Dubai’s thriving business center, guests can take advantage of the terrace with four pools, cozy break rooms for well-deserved pauses, a gym and a bold design throughout.
Photo credit:Natural Selection
The latest from Natural Selection, which offers remarkable experiences in wild, untouched places, is set to open in April 2025 in Botswana’s Northern Okavango Delta. Situated on a vast 220,000-acre concession, offering a mosaic of ecosystems, Mbamba is the companies newest tented camp set to offer superb game viewing year-round. Comprising 12 canvas tents designed to exude vintage charm, they feature en-suite bathrooms and private verandas set on raised wooden decks under the shade of leadwood trees. Guests will be immersed into nature of the surrounding Okavango Delta and along with exhilarating wildlife experiences, will enjoy two lounges, an intimate library and a swimming pool on property.
(credit: Oberoi Hotels & Resorts)
The Oberoi Melouk and Malekat, Luxury Nile Dahabeyas
Blending the historical charm of ancient Egypt with the modern luxuries and unparalleled service that define the Oberoi experience, The Oberoi Melouk and Malekat, Luxury Nile Dahabeya are set to launch Q1 2025. Set to present a new standard for Nile cruising, the name of the ship is derived from the Arabic word “Dahabeya,” meaning “the golden one”, which has a rich history of elegant sailing vessels dating back to the late 1800s. Powered and navigated by a tugboat and wind, the Dahabeya represents the pinnacle of sophistication and elegance in Nile cruising offering an intimate sailing experience featuring seven luxurious rooms. The itineraries are designed for leisurely exploration of Egypt’s ancient history, offering six- and four-night cruises between Luxor and Aswan. The Oberoi, Luxury Nile Dahabeyas will also offer exclusive authentic experiences on board, such as farm to table Egyptian and Nubian cooking classes as well as fishing with the locals and visits to local vegetable gardens and farms. One of The Oberoi, Dahabeyas will be the only dahabeya sailing the Nile which is exclusively for full buyouts.
(credit: Kempinski Hotels)
Kempinski Residences The Creek Dubai
Overlooking Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Kempinski Residences The Creek Dubai will present a collection of 285 elegant apartments. Opening Spring 2025, the residences are set in two eye-catching buildings ranging from one-bedroom to four-bedroom duplexes and offer guests an opportunity for mindful living in Dubai. Situated in Al Jaddaf on the banks of Dubai Creek, the residences are surrounded by landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, padel tennis, beach volleyball and basketball court as well as abundant space for outdoor exercises. Owners will also have access to a sizable gym and fitness center with a view to the green gardens, a private cinema and a residents’ clubhouse that will act as a hub for the owner community.
(credit: Minor Hotels)
Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp
Located in the expansive Kafue National Park in Zambia, the oldest and largest of the country’s national parks, Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp will open in Q2 of 2025. Set along the banks of the Kafue River, suspended 12 feet above the ground, the camp will offer 12 spacious tents, including a 6.500 sq. ft. Presidential Villa. Owned by Agro Safari and in partnership with Minor Hotels, the Camp will immerse guests in the heart of a national park populated with majestic wildlife. The camp will also accommodate a spa and wellness area with a swimming pool, a restaurant and bar, a lounge and a traditional African boma.
(credit: Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina)
Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina
Also scheduled to open the second half of 2025, Six Senses Residences Dubai Marina will rise and be the world’s tallest residential tower. Taking a holistic approach, wellness-centric and community-enhancing infrastructure elements and amenities, the residential offerings will include Penthouses, Royal Penthouses, and duplex Sky Villas, together with nine five-bedroom beachfront Signature Villas, each offering a private garden, infinity pool, and palm-framed views to the beach. Set to offer 251 residences including its five–bedroom triplex sky mansions and the Skydeck’s stunning 25-meter lap pool on the 109th floor, what’s truly special is the suite of wellness amenities. Spread across four levels, there is 61,250 sq. ft. offering a range of wellness offerings combining high-tech science and diagnostics with high-touch services uniquely themed to promote well-being.
(credit: Six Senses Triple Bay, AMAALA)
Opening the second half of 2025, the beachfront residences, a hillside village and villas embodies Saudi Arabia’s transformative Vision 2030 program. Derived from the Arabic word for hope and the Sanskrit word for purity, AMAALA blends the area’s natural raw beauty with elegance lining a private mangrove bay. The 64 rooms, six suites, 30 villas and 25 branded residences are inspired by the region’s traditional coastal villages. Offering panoramic views across the Hijaz Cove to the Red Sea and winding streets and paths leading to enchanting plazas, the property will be a host of activities based on AMAALA’s three pillars of ‘wellness and sports’, ‘arts and culture’, and ‘sea, sun, and lifestyle’.
(credit: Courtesy of EDITION Hotels)
The Red Sea EDITION
Set to be the company’s second hotel in the Middle East, The Red Sea EDITION will open in 2025 on the main island of The Red Sea Project, Shura. EDITION’s second hotel in Saudi Arabia will feature 240 rooms, including one-, two- and three-bedroom suites, as well as two restaurants and multiple bars along with a gym, swimming pool and spa.
Two other properties which have been rumored to open, but not confirmed by JustLuxe, are Clinique La Prairie Health Resort Amaala and Fregate Island Private.