Yanbu Beach Club

Location: Yanbu, Saudi Arabia
Client: AWN Enterprises
Scale: 5600 m2
Cost: 30 million SAR
Design Team:
BACA architects (Architecture and Landscape) in partnership with Wells International (Interior Concept)

Background

The Yanbu Beach Club stands as a striking example of resort architecture, located on the Red Sea coastline in Saudi Arabia.

Drawing inspiration from historic caravanserais, those iconic roadside inns where ideas, culture and commerce once flowed, the Beach Club creates a modern-day sanctuary where relaxation, social exchange and nature meet.

Through framing architecture in the tradition of hospitality and cultural exchange, the project demonstrates how luxury resort design can anchor itself in heritage while embracing sustainability and elegant simplicity.

Process

In designing the Beach Club, we immersed ourselves in the narrative of the site. We structured the arrival, from road to jetty, to reflect the historic paths of travellers, allowing guests to arrive either by car or water.

The central courtyard and interconnected spaces mirror the layout of a caravanserai, creating vibrant zones for gathering, dining, relaxation and beach life.

Materials were chosen in harmony with the landscape: neutral local stone, arches and distinctive vertical spikes echo the desert and coastline. On the terrace level, natural materials such as wood, rattan and woven textures merge with shaded fabric canopies, creating inviting spaces for social time or quiet refuge.

Both private beach zones and generous public beach areas were carefully planned to give guests a choice of experience, and the event-space phase extends that by offering an outdoor cinema, children’s activity zone and retail pods.

The process was deeply rooted in enabling luxury beach club resort design that reads both timeless and connected to the natural setting.

Architecture

The architecture of the Yanbu Beach Club exemplifies how waterfront resort architecture in the Red Sea can blend cultural resonance, resort luxury and environmental awareness.

The clubhouse’s form, rustic yet contemporary, makes bold statements: its large circular canopy becomes a sculptural beacon on the coastline. Throughout the day, sunlight dances across the pathways, transforming the experience of space and shadow.

Each curve, arch, and aperture has been designed to respond to the wind, the water, and the human journey through the site. Private cabanas decorated in airy colours and soft fabrics sit alongside landscape-integrated sunbeds and sunken seating zones in the public beach area.

From a technical standpoint, the design incorporates elevated structures and permeable landscaping to respond to coastal conditions, offering long-term durability in a marine climate.

In total, the project offers a layered architecture of elegance, heritage and site responsiveness, reinforcing how modern resort architecture can honour tradition, maximise guest experience and respect the coastal environment.