In the southern part of Riyadh, tucked away in downtown streets adorned with rare desert greenery, stands a 365,000-square-foot palace that was once the residence of King Saud bin Abdulaziz, the second ruler of modern Saudi Arabia.
Constructed in the 1940s for the then-crown prince, the Red Palace is a 3.6-hectare Art Deco mansion that is now undergoing a remarkable transformation. The Boutique Group, a hospitality company, is converting this historic palace into an ultra-luxury hotel that aims to offer guests an immersive experience of Saudi royal life.
This unique project is not just about luxury—it’s also a significant effort in historic preservation. The Red Palace, which once served as a government headquarters during the Kingdom’s rise as a global energy superpower, will reopen in 2025 with 70 rooms that preserve the physical spaces and the regal lifestyle that once defined them.
Guests will be treated to menus featuring the Saud family’s favorite recipes, while spa treatments will incorporate ancient healing rituals native to the region. The air will be filled with the scent of Taif roses, a fragrance beloved by King Saud.
According to Boutique Group, the Red Palace will offer a one-of-a-kind experience in Saudi Arabia, a country that only began welcoming leisure tourists five years ago. The hotel is set to become one of the most exclusive destinations in the global luxury market.
“It’s about the experience of being treated like royalty, where every detail is meticulously attended to,” said Mark De Cocinis, CEO of Boutique Group. “But beyond that, it’s about the history and culture—about living through the stories of kings, their families, and the distinguished guests they entertained.”
