The fashion-forward hotel brand opens its first all-inclusive resort outside of Europe.
SO/ has always occupied a slightly different space in luxury hospitality. Launched in 2011 and rooted in the world of fashion, it remains a tightly edited hotel brand rather than a sprawling one, with fewer than 15 properties worldwide, from Paris and Vienna to the Maldives, Dubai and now Ras Al Khaimah. This is not only the brand’s first all-inclusive resort outside Europe, but also its second UAE address, following the opening of SO/Uptown Dubai in 2023.
Set at the entrance to the coral-shaped Al Marjan Island, the new resort positions guests between desert horizons, the rugged Hajar Mountains and the shores of the Arabian Gulf. True to the SO/ DNA, design takes centre stage. From the outside, the hotel looks like a wave. All glass curvatures and suspended steel, yet inside there is warmth, with burnt-orange sculptures, blinds, and shimmering surfaces that encompass a kaleidoscopic rainbow. Statement pieces line the lobby, from sculpted vases to chunky coffee-table books that tell stories of Middle Eastern art and Islamic design. It is recognisably SO/, but translated for Ras Al Khaimah’s coast. The atmosphere, much like the service, feels relaxed rather than ceremonious.
Room and suites
This lifestyle-led aesthetic extends throughout the 257 rooms and suites, all of which are oriented toward the water to make the most of the island setting. Drawing on the natural beauty of Al Marjan Island, where desert, sea, and mountains meet, the accommodations embrace a palette of sunset orange, natural green and ocean blue that thread through the spaces, reinforcing the link to sea and sky while maintaining a crisp, modern aesthetic that echoes shifting horizons and reflected light. Whether you are checking in for a long weekend or a seasonal escape, the blockbuster views and modern flourishes offer much of the appeal.
In the One Bedroom Collection Corner Suite, that restraint offers elegance rather than ostentation, with a spacious living area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a wraparound terrace that makes the most of the blockbuster views. A vivid blue chaise longue sits at the foot of the bed, capturing the curvature of the waves, while a ribbed rug mimics the contours of the desert dunes glimpsed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Add in the rain shower, deep bathtub, 55″ 4K Ultra HDTV, and a bed dressed in plump pillows and impressively buoyant linens, and you have a suite that understands modern luxury is as much about ease as it is about aesthetics. Being all-inclusive, the minibar is complimentary and refilled daily based on consumption.
Destination Dining
Dining is a definite highlight. Forget endless queues at the hotel buffet as SO/ Ras Al Khaimah offers several restaurants and bars across its sprawling grounds, treating food as part of the property’s identity rather than another necessary inclusion. Chiano, which takes its name from the Neapolitan dialect meaning ‘soft’ and ‘slow’, offers a menu of coastal Italian cuisine with familiar classics such as beef carpaccio, burrata salad, hand-pulled pasta, and freshly fired pizzas, all prepared with precision and plenty of olive oil. Hadaba – also found at SO/Maldives – celebrates Middle Eastern flavours that traverse the region from Beirut to the ancient Sām City in Yemen.
The Market serves as the all-day hub, offering everything from pancakes and waffles in the morning to sushi and curries in the evening. Savant is perched on the 10th floor, serving crafted cocktails and skyline panoramas. Poolside, Cabini and the adults-only Bungalow keep the atmosphere laid-back, while the Sunset Bar extends the social energy to the shoreline.
Quality is key, and the beverage programme appears to have been taken seriously when compared to other all-inclusive offerings in the UAE. In a market where all-inclusive often signals compromise, revellers can enjoy premium brands and classic and curated cocktails, whether at dinner, on the beach, or in the lobby.
Rest and Relaxation
Recreation is equally well judged, with the resort making the most of its coastal setting. There are two swimming pools, one of which is adults-only, and a dedicated splash area for children and a swathe of sandy beach lined with sun loungers. One practical point is worth noting: the pool area stays shaded until later in the day, so early sun seekers are better off heading straight to the sand.
The beach remains the property’s strongest leisure asset, and while construction looms offshore, the shoreline remains unscathed, offering a sandy strip, turquoise waters, plenty of loungers, sunken seating areas, and a beautiful bar churning out colourful cocktails and mocktails.
Wellness is well covered. Anjana Spa offers treatment rooms, a sauna, vitality pools, and sensorial rainforest showers, as well as a fully equipped gym and complimentary instructor-led classes such as boxercise and yoga, which is unusually robust for a resort stay. The entertainment programme offers everything from movies under the stars to beach volleyball, tennis and non-motorised water sports. Golfers can tee off at nearby courses, making it easy to pair resort life with time on the fairways.
The verdict
SO/ Ras Al Khaimah succeeds because it does not use all-inclusive as an excuse to lower the bar. Instead, it brings the brand’s fashion-led identity into a resort with personality: design-forward without being try-hard, lively without becoming chaotic, and indulgent without slipping into excess. It will not be for travellers seeking hushed minimalism or barefoot seclusion. But for those who want a beach escape with strong dining, attentive service, generous rooms and a little social energy after dark, this all-inclusive resort offers a terrific taste of island life.
With Ras Al Khaimah on the verge of a huge hospitality upgrade thanks to Wynn Al Marjan Island – the region’s first integrated gaming resort – and a slew of arrivals, including Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Ras Al Khaimah, Nobu Al Marjan Island and the party-driven The Unexpected Hotel by Ushuaïa, SO/ Ras Al Khaimah offers a taste of lifestyle-led hospitality at the top of the tent.
Where: SO/ Ras Al Khaimah, Al Marjan Island, Nad Al Sili, Ras Al Khaimah
Contact: so-hotels.com/en/ras-al-khaimah