The Oberoi Beach Resort Sahl Hasheesh

A village of domes on the bay

The Oberoi, Sahl Hasheesh belongs to Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, the Indian hotel group. The resort covers 194,249 m², about 19 hectares (48 acres) of gardens, on the seafront of Sahl Hasheesh bay, 17 km from Hurghada airport.

It has only suites, about a hundred of them, laid out in small clusters on terraces stepping down to the sea. The architecture draws on the region: domes, arches, neoclassical columns, handcrafted lanterns and the eight-pointed star motif. Interiors blend Egyptian, Indian and Moroccan influences: high domed ceilings, papyrus lamps, sunken marble baths, and for each suite an enclosed courtyard onto which the bathroom opens.

This low, spread-out layout shapes the stay. There are no corridors and no lifts: you walk home through a garden and meet few people. That is what sets the Oberoi apart from the large resorts of Hurghada, twenty minutes or so to the north.

In 2025, readers of Condé Nast Traveller, in its UK and US editions, ranked it among the best resorts in the world; the UK edition placed it third among Middle East resorts in 2024.

Which suite to choose

All four categories share the same equipment (king-size bed, stocked bar, two TVs, 24-hour in-room dining); they differ in view and outdoor space.

The garden-facing Deluxe Suite is enough for a couple who spend their days on the beach or at the spa. For a first stay we recommend the Superior Deluxe Suite: the same size, but with windows onto the beach and the Red Sea, and the view makes the difference when you wake up. The Grand Suite, with its private pool in a walled garden, is the honeymoon choice; the Royal Suite, which can connect to another suite, is the best option for a family.

The sea from the jetty

The hotel has its own white-sand beach, house reef and jetty. Snorkelling gear is lent to explore the reef.

The dive centre, certified by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the international body that issues diving qualifications), runs sea dives, night dives and private dives, and teaches from the first level, Open Water Diver, up to Divemaster. Dives are made by boat.

The hotel also offers private boat trips by the half or full day, a sunset cruise around the nearby islands facing the Red Sea mountains, and guided snorkelling.

On land, the concierge arranges a day in Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens), a desert safari in an air-conditioned 4x4 with Bedouin tea, a quad ride in the morning or at sunset, horse or camel rides on the beach, and tee times at the region's golf courses.

A day at the Oberoi

All times are local.

Breakfast is served at The Restaurant from 7.30 to 10.30 am, indoors, on the terrace or in the courtyard. The 43 m infinity pool, open from 9 am to sunset, has an adults-only area, two whirlpools and a children's splash pool. At lunchtime, The Pergola serves Mediterranean or Far Eastern dishes under the pergolas or on the sand, from 12.30 to 4.30 pm; the Beach Bar serves cocktails and grilled food from 10 am to sunset.

During the day the hotel runs free activities: yoga, cooking classes, tea or wine tasting, boxing, interval training, pétanque. The Oberoi Spa, for hotel guests only, is open from 9 am to 8 pm: Balinese and Thai massage, Ayurveda-inspired rituals, Omorovicza facials, a couples' suite and a steam room in a private garden. Treatments should be requested 24 hours ahead.

In the evening there are two restaurants. The Restaurant serves international cuisine from 7 to 10.30 pm. Zaafran, an Indian restaurant with candlelit tables under a silver-leaf ceiling and live traditional music, is the house speciality: Indian cooking from an Indian group, rare on this coast. The Bar, in Spanish marble and polished wood, serves until midnight, Cuban cigars included. For an occasion, the hotel sets up a private dinner on the jetty at sunset.

Sabaro's view

For whom: honeymooners, anniversaries, couples who want calm and attentive service, divers who want a centre on site.

Strengths: low, spread-out architecture with no corridors; suites of at least 85 m²; a reef reachable from the beach; a 9.2/10 rating on Booking.com.

Good to know: Sahl Hasheesh bay is quiet at night; going out means driving to Hurghada. Families have few options: only one child under 12 can sleep in the parents' suite.