Stargazers and travelers seeking clear night skies now have a unique new destination in the Middle East. Two luxury resorts in Saudi Arabia have become the first in the region to earn official certification from DarkSky International, an organization dedicated to reducing light pollution and protecting natural night skies.
DarkSky International launched its Approved Lodgings & Resorts certification program in August 2026. To earn the approval, resorts must be located in places with exceptional dark skies, limit unnecessary artificial lighting, and help educate visitors about the importance of protecting sensitive nighttime environments.
The two newly certified destinations are Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Desert Rock Resort. Nujuma is located on the turquoise waters of the Red Sea. Its name comes from the Arabic word for "stars." The resort features private beachfront villas with large windows for viewing the stars at night. A resident astronomy expert guides guests on nighttime tours to learn about the stars and their cultural meaning.
Desert Rock Resort is located in the Kingdom's Hijaz Mountains, a 20-minute drive from Red Sea International Airport. The resort features 54 villas and 10 suites built into mountain rocks and pinnacles. Guests can observe planets, constellations, and meteor showers through powerful telescopes at the resort's Astronomy Centre. Desert Rock also offers night hikes along its Luna Trail and special lunar night experiences exploring how stars and the moon were historically used for navigation.
To protect stargazing conditions, Desert Rock limits artificial light at night. This effort not only creates clear views of the sky for visitors, but also helps maintain natural day and night cycles for local desert wildlife.