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The best credit card for luxury resorts in Saudi Arabia.

Updated

Why this card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card for luxury resorts in Saudi Arabia.

Marriott now owns the marquee Red Sea openings: Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve opened on Ummahat Island in May 2024 and won Forbes Travel Guide's 2024 New Hotel of the Year, and The St Regis Red Sea Resort opened in January 2024 with 90 overwater and beachfront villas. Six Senses Southern Dunes (a Marriott Bonvoy property since the IHG acquisition closed) opened November 2023 in the desert near Umluj.

Annual fee

$650

Best earn rate

6 points per dollar at Marriotts, Platinum status, 85,000-point free night certificate annually

Signup bonus

Currently around 150,000 points after tiered spend, see issuer for the current offer

The St Regis Red Sea Resort prices roughly 100,000 to 130,000 points a night against a $1,800 to $2,500 cash overwater villa, which makes the Brilliant's 85K free night cert push a long weekend within reach on points plus one paid night. Platinum at a Red Sea St Regis comes with a personal butler attached to each villa, which is one of the strongest in-property service tiers offered anywhere. Six Senses Southern Dunes runs around 90,000 points a night on Marriott against $1,400 cash. The math justifies the $650 fee on a single trip.

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If the top pick is not right

Alternative: The Platinum Card from American Express.

Banyan Tree AlUla and Our Habitas AlUla sit outside the Marriott family. Both are on Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, where the upgrade plus daily breakfast for two plus $100 property credit lands meaningful value on a $1,500 cash desert villa. Use this if your itinerary leans AlUla rather than the Red Sea coast.

American ExpressAnnual fee $895

Skip this one

Not the right card for luxury resorts in Saudi Arabia: World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Hyatt's Saudi footprint is still building, with the brand's first AlUla property and two NEOM hotels announced but not yet open for guests. If you book in 2026, the Hyatt card has no property to pay for.

At a glance

Side by side.

SpecMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express CardThe Platinum Card from American Express
Annual fee$650$895
Best earn rate6 points per dollar at Marriotts, Platinum status, 85,000-point free night certificate annuallySee alternative section above
Signup bonusCurrently around 150,000 points after tiered spend, see issuer for the current offerVaries by month

Local tip

What to know before you book.

The US State Department raised Saudi Arabia to Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) on March 2, 2026 following the start of US and Iran hostilities, and ordered non-emergency government family members to leave on March 8, 2026. Check travel.state.gov before booking and confirm that your trip insurance still covers the destination, because most policies exclude Level 3 markets unless purchased before the advisory was issued. The Red Sea region remains the most active luxury opening pipeline in the world: Shebara (November 2024) and Desert Rock (February 2025) joined the cluster, with three more Four Seasons properties under construction for 2026 and 2027 delivery.

Questions

Frequently asked.

What is the best credit card for luxury resorts in Saudi Arabia?

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card from American Express. The St Regis Red Sea Resort prices roughly 100,000 to 130,000 points a night against a $1,800 to $2,500 cash overwater villa, which makes the Brilliant's 85K... Annual fee is $650.

How many points do you need for a free night in Saudi Arabia luxury (AlUla and the Red Sea)?

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Roughly 110,000 points per night at the recommended chain for Saudi Arabia luxury (AlUla and the Red Sea). Cash rate is around $1950 per night, so the points stay is a meaningful discount versus paying cash.

Is the The Platinum Card from American Express a better choice for luxury resorts in Saudi Arabia?

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Banyan Tree AlUla and Our Habitas AlUla sit outside the Marriott family. Both are on Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, where the upgrade plus daily breakfast for two plus $100 property credit lands meaningful value on a $1,500 cash desert villa. Use this if your itinerary leans AlUla rather than the Red Sea coast. Annual fee is $895.