Best Food & Restaurants for Red Sea Diving in Saudi Arabia | Homejourney

Best Food and Restaurants in Saudi Arabia Diving: Red Sea Underwater – Quick Overview

If you are planning a diving Saudi Arabia trip along the Red Sea, the best food and restaurants are clustered inside new luxury dive resorts such as Nujuma, a Ritz‑Carlton Reserve, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, The Red Sea EDITION, SLS The Red Sea, and Shebara on Sheybarah Island, where you can combine world‑class dining with direct access to pristine coral reefs and warm‑water scuba Saudi experiences.[1][3][4][8]

This cluster guide supports Homejourney’s broader Red Sea pillar content by going deep into one specific question many Singapore travellers and investors ask: “Where can I eat well and stay safely near the best Red Sea diving sites in Saudi Arabia?” For readers considering both travel and long‑term lifestyle or property moves, Homejourney helps you compare the Red Sea with safe, well‑regulated options in Singapore’s real estate market.

Why Combine Red Sea Diving with Food & Resort Experiences

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is emerging as one of the world’s last largely untouched barrier reef systems, with clear water, healthy coral, and relatively few boats compared with older dive hotspots.[2][3] Resorts here are being built with integrated dining, meaning your best restaurants are usually in your hotel or on the same island, within a few minutes’ walk of dive centers and jetties.[1][3][4]

From a Singapore traveller’s perspective, this feels very similar to pairing a Sentosa or Bintan resort with on‑site dining: you trade city convenience for an all‑inclusive, controlled environment where food quality, safety, and logistics are managed for you. As someone used to comparing resort offerings for Singapore buyers, the Red Sea model looks closest to high‑end integrated resorts in Asia, but with a much lower density of visitors and an emphasis on marine conservation.

Best Red Sea Diving & Dining Resorts to Know

The most reliable way to enjoy both great food and safe, well‑organised diving in Saudi’s Red Sea is to anchor your stay around a vetted resort. Below are the key options to shortlist if food is as important to you as underwater visibility.

1. Nujuma, a Ritz‑Carlton Reserve – Boutique Dining with On‑Site Diving

Nujuma, a Ritz‑Carlton Reserve, is one of the flagship ultra‑luxury Red Sea properties and has its own Galaxea Diving Center, where guests book guided dives directly from the resort jetty.[1] Reviews highlight personalised service and professional dive staff capable of handling nervous beginners, which is reassuring for Singapore travellers who may be newer to open‑ocean dives.[1]

Food‑wise, Nujuma focuses on high‑end, curated menus using fresh local seafood, with guests frequently noting that dining standards rival top Maldives properties.[1] While specific restaurant brand names are less publicised, the pattern is clear: full‑board style experiences, multiple dining venues, and flexibility for dietary needs – important if you are used to Singapore’s halal‑aware, allergy‑sensitive dining culture.

Insider tip (Singapore context): Expect pricing close to top Maldives villas. If you usually budget SGD 150–250 per person per day for food at Maldives 5‑star resorts, you should plan similar or slightly higher for Nujuma due to its remote logistics and curated experiences. Always check if breakfast and dinner are packaged into your room rate, as this can be more cost‑efficient than paying à la carte.

2. The St. Regis Red Sea Resort – Nesma, Gishiki 45 & Tilina

The St. Regis Red Sea Resort offers three signature restaurants – Nesma, Gishiki 45 and Tilina – all designed to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces with wide sea views, ideal if you like to eat within sight of the dive sites you visited earlier in the day.[4]

Nesma: An all‑day restaurant with relaxed island vibes, typically serving international and Middle Eastern dishes suitable for families and mixed groups.[4]
Gishiki 45: A modern Japanese venue with omakase experiences and live cooking; perfect if you are used to high‑end omakase in Singapore and want something comparable after a day of underwater Saudi adventures.[4]
Tilina: Floating above the reef, this grill‑style restaurant serves premium meats and seafood with a focus on both local sourcing and imported cuts.[4]

Paired with resort‑organised water activities and access to nearby reefs, this gives you a strong all‑round offer: world‑class Red Sea diving in the day, then omakase or grilled seafood in the evening, all within walking distance of your villa.[4]

3. Shebara on Sheybarah Island – Sustainable Luxury with Five Restaurants

Shebara on Sheybarah Island, part of the Red Sea Global portfolio, positions itself as a sustainability‑focused resort powered entirely by an on‑site solar farm.[3] It has five signature restaurants, including Mediterranean and Japanese‑Nikkei concepts, and markets itself around “world‑class dining” with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.[3][7]

For divers, one major advantage is proximity: the reef drop‑off is only 30–40 metres from the beach, so you can literally finish breakfast, walk a minute or two, and be at a prime site.[3] This is appealing for Singapore travellers who may be used to easy house‑reef access in places like the Maldives or the Philippines.

Insider tip: Because Shebara emphasises sustainability, you can expect limited single‑use plastics and potentially set menus based on what is seasonally available, much like some eco‑resorts in Southeast Asia. If you have specific dietary requirements, inform the resort in advance so the kitchen can stock accordingly – last‑minute customisation can be harder on a remote island.

4. The Red Sea EDITION & SLS The Red Sea – New Openings with Food‑Forward Concepts

The Red Sea EDITION and SLS The Red Sea, both on Shura Island, are part of a cluster of new openings that combine design‑driven rooms, beach clubs, and destination restaurants.[5][6][8]

The Red Sea EDITION: Early guest feedback highlights Jiwa Restaurant as a standout, offering elevated cuisine that many reviewers rate as among the best they have had at any resort, with strong Levantine and Mediterranean flavours.[1]
SLS The Red Sea: Features multiple branded venues such as Fi’lia, Floating World and Seabird, providing Italian‑inspired, Asian‑influenced, and seafood‑driven menus in one integrated space.[8]

Shura Island will also host multiple other resorts, marinas, and restaurants, creating something closer to a “mini‑city” of Red Sea hospitality – a useful base if you want both serious diving and nightlife, in contrast to quieter single‑resort islands.[3][5]

What to Eat After a Red Sea Dive: Local Flavours & Safe Choices

After long days in the water, divers need carbohydrates, lean protein, and hydration. Saudi Red Sea resorts generally provide buffet or semi‑buffet breakfasts with Middle Eastern staples such as hummus, foul medames, labneh, grilled meats, flatbreads, and fresh fruit, alongside international items like eggs and pastries.[4][9]

For lunch and dinner, the most dive‑friendly and regionally authentic choices include:

Grilled local fish and prawns – often caught nearby, simply prepared with lemon and herbs; an excellent post‑dive protein source.
Shakshouka or egg dishes – useful for brunch if you are doing a late morning dive.
Levantine mezze – hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh and kebabs, which work well for groups sharing plates after a boat dive.
Japanese sushi and sashimi at Gishiki 45 or similar venues – a familiar comfort food for many Singapore divers who are used to pairing sashimi with resort stays.[4]

Food safety standards at the major Red Sea integrated resorts are typically aligned with international 5‑star expectations, which is reassuring if you are used to Singapore’s strict hygiene norms. That said, Homejourney always recommends basic precautions: avoid undercooked seafood before deep dives, stay well‑hydrated, and confirm any allergies with restaurant staff.

Best Time to Visit for Diving and Dining

According to resort operators and destination information, the best time to dive the Saudi Red Sea is generally from October to May, when air temperatures are cooler and underwater visibility is excellent.[2][9] During these months, you can comfortably combine two dives a day with long al fresco dinners without the extreme heat of peak summer.

If you are coming from Singapore, these months also align well with year‑end breaks, CNY holidays, and March school holidays. Booking early is advisable because Red Sea capacity is still limited – unlike more mature markets, a few full resorts can significantly reduce availability.