Desert Rock Resort in Saudi Arabia’s Hijaz Mountains has become one of the first resorts in the world to achieve certification under the DarkSky Approved Lodging & Resort programme.
Located within a secluded valley at The Red Sea, the certification recognises the resort’s night sky quality, approach to responsible outdoor lighting and protection of the natural nighttime environment.
The recognition comes as interest in astrotourism continues to grow, with travellers increasingly seeking destinations offering opportunities to observe stars, planets and other celestial events away from significant artificial light.
Desert Rock’s villas and suites are positioned along the wadi floor, embedded within the mountains or suspended from rocky pinnacles.
Each includes a private pool and views across the surrounding landscape, with the resort’s design intended to maintain a close connection between accommodation and its natural environment throughout the day and after sunset.
Guests can explore the landscape through guided evening walks, while the resort’s Astronomy Centre provides a dedicated location for observing planets, constellations, meteor showers and other celestial events.
At the highest point of the massif, The Observatory provides a lounge overlooking the surrounding mountains and night sky.
The space is reached by a 120-metre suspension bridge and serves non-alcoholic drinks and pastries as part of the evening experience.
Desert Rock also offers guided astronomy activities through Akun, Red Sea Global’s inland experiences brand.
The one-hour Arabian Astronomy Observation combines astronomical observation with cultural interpretation of the night sky.
A further Al’Ayali Albeidh Lunar Nights experience explores the cultural significance of the moon and stars, including traditional stories and their historic use in navigation and calendaring.
The resort’s lighting strategy limits unnecessary artificial light, creating clearer conditions for stargazing while helping to maintain natural light-dark cycles for nocturnal and light-sensitive wildlife.
The approach forms part of Desert Rock’s wider environmental strategy, which includes operating fully off-grid using on-site renewable energy and preserving 97% of the surrounding natural landscape.
The DarkSky Approved Resort programme was developed by DarkSky International in collaboration with Red Sea Global and is the first DarkSky certification programme created specifically for resort properties.
At Desert Rock, the programme brings together lighting management, astronomy activities and the resort’s secluded mountain setting to make the night sky a central part of the guest experience.
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