On the pristine shores of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA is poised to become one of the region’s most anticipated wellness destinations. Rooted in the principles of Traditional Saudi Medicine while embracing evidence-based science, the ultra-luxury retreat represents a Middle Eastern interpretation of modern wellbeing that’s designed for every generation.
Leading this vision is General Manager Sascha Hemmann, whose own journey into wellness reflects the changing priorities of luxury hospitality itself. After decades leading some of the world’s most celebrated hotels across London, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the United States, Hemmann made a conscious decision to slow down. His personal pursuit of balance eventually became a professional calling, bringing him to AMAALA to oversee what promises to become one of Saudi Arabia’s defining hospitality openings. “My journey led me to wellness, not just as a professional direction, but as a personal commitment,” he tells Eyes Arabia.
The global conversation around longevity has shifted dramatically in recent years. Biological age testing, personalised nutrition, continuous glucose monitoring and preventative medicine have become increasingly mainstream among ultra-high-net-worth travellers. Yet Hemmann believes the future of wellness lies somewhere deeper. “I believe people are becoming less interested in collecting things and more interested in how they want to feel,” he says. “For many years, success was measured by what we acquired. Today, there is a growing recognition that our health, our energy, our peace of mind and our ability to be present for the people we love are among the most valuable things we have.”
Rather than focusing solely on extending lifespan, Jayasom asks a more meaningful question. “Longevity is certainly part of that conversation, but for us the question is not simply how long we live. It is how fully we live.” Every stay is individually designed, with programmes spanning gut health, hormonal balance, female-focused wellness, detoxification, sleep optimisation and preventative longevity. Crucially, each journey is intended to continue long after guests leave AMAALA, encouraging sustainable lifestyle changes rather than temporary interventions.
Jayasom occupies a carefully considered position between cutting-edge medical science and centuries-old healing traditions. “Science has an important role to play in helping us better understand our health,” Hemmann explains. “At the same time, some of the most powerful influences on how we age are not new discoveries. They are the fundamentals that many of us struggle to prioritise in modern life: sleep, movement, nourishment, stress management, connection and purpose.”
That balance is perhaps best illustrated through the resort’s embrace of Traditional Saudi Medicine, an approach that remains largely unfamiliar to international wellness travellers. Rather than borrowing from more widely recognised systems such as Ayurveda, Jayasom celebrates the Arabian Peninsula’s own healing heritage, where “generations of wellness wisdom have evolved in response to the landscape, climate and way of life of the region,” says Hemmann. “These traditions draw on indigenous herbs, nutrition, movement and restorative practices that have been passed from one generation to the next.” Practices such as native desert botanicals and holistic restorative rituals are thoughtfully integrated alongside contemporary medical expertise. “Our responsibility is not to reinvent or romanticise these traditions,” he says, “but to work with knowledgeable practitioners and respect their cultural context.”
Positioned within AMAALA’s protected Red Sea coastline, surrounded by crystalline waters and dramatic desert landscapes, the environment becomes another form of therapy. “Nature has a remarkable ability to bring us back into balance,” Hemmann explains. “Some places ask for your attention. The Red Sea invites your presence.” Jayasom considers the surrounding landscape an essential component of every wellness programme, encouraging movement, mindfulness and reconnection with natural rhythms.
That same holistic thinking extends into one of the resort’s signature pillars: sleep. “Sleep is often where the body tells the truth,” he says. While sleep tourism has become one of hospitality’s fastest-growing categories, Hemmann believes many programmes fail to address the underlying causes. Jayasom seeks to identify lifestyle patterns affecting long-term rest, creating personalised strategies that remain effective long after departure. “Our goal is not simply to help guests sleep well during their stay,” he adds. “It is to help them create the conditions for better sleep long after they return home.”
As AMAALA emerges as one of the world’s most ambitious luxury tourism destinations, the opening of Jayasom signals Saudi Arabia’s arrival as a global wellness destination with its own distinct identity. Rather than replicating established wellness models from Europe or Asia, here, the approach is rooted in regional culture while speaking the international language of luxury hospitality. “The people drawn to Jayasom are naturally curious,” says Hemmann. “They seek places that offer more than beautiful surroundings; they want experiences that enrich how they live.”
