Family, Fashion And The Red Sea: Bazaar Arabia Escapes To InterContinental The Red Sea Resort, Shura Island
InterContinental The Red Sea Resort gives Zeynab El Helw room for dinner dates, pool time, and perfectly packed looks
Before we even started rolling the cameras on Shura Island, Zeynab El Helw had already picked out the piece that she will wear throughout the trip. “My ultimate resort-wear hack is a sheer golden dress I wore on set – a true miracle piece. It can be scrunched into a bag without creasing, yet looks instantly polished the moment you slip it on.” At InterContinental The Red Sea Resort, that dress became her uniform, worn over a swimsuit for impromptu dips, with flats for family lunches, and paired with jewellery for golden hour. It not only proved to be practical but also captured the spirit of her holiday, where winding down and family time were the ultimate priority.
Back in the UAE, the half-Turkish, half-Egyptian fashion blogger’s life involves school runs, dinners, and content deadlines. Now, combine that with a city as fast-paced as Dubai, and it makes breaks like this one even more special. “Family time is truly my North Star. Dubai is exhilarating, but the pace can be relentless – work, school, commitments, and social noise. When I carve out intentional space for just us, everything recalibrates. It’s grounding, clarifying, and a reminder of what sits at the heart of everything I do,” she said. InterContinental The Red Sea Resort proves to be ideal for a break that satisfies all these needs, as it’s designed for all ages, from toddlers to teens, and of course, the adults who bring them along, positioning the property as a true multigenerational retreat in Saudi Arabia’s most exciting coastline.
For Zeynab, being a mother means avoiding “what do we do now?” moments for the little ones at all costs and returning home with lots to cherish. Sharing what her children enjoyed the most, she said: “Planet Trekkers Club was a complete triumph. But one of the sweetest surprises was my son’s fascination with mastering paper airplanes while his sister would chase them around the resort. They perfected their designs and then challenged everyone to impromptu races around the property. Between barefoot beach freedom, and endless outdoor exploring and climbing, they were truly living their happiest holiday selves.” Planet Trekkers is a dedicated programme for young guests up to the age of 13, and blends island-themed creativity with land and sea adventures, giving parents the rare bonus of time while their children are engaged.
By this point in the trip, the property had the whole family thoroughly entertained and relaxed. One day in particular has remained with her. “There was one morning that captured the essence of the whole trip. We wandered down to the beach barefoot, still slightly half-asleep, while the children did their playful ‘morning run’ along the shoreline. They were buzzing to jump into the buggy afterward – mostly because our warm, charismatic butler had become their partner-in-crime. He kept them entertained all the way to the open buffet, where they proudly curated their own breakfasts. It was unplanned, simple, and utterly magical – the kind of moment that lingers long after you’ve left,” she said.
Speaking of spontaneous plans, for Zeynab, it’s particularly important not to over-script her holidays and to leave space for these small discoveries. “I’ve learned that the most meaningful memories unfold when there’s room for spontaneity. I plan a few anchor moments, but I also let everyone find their own rhythm. The children chase adventure, my husband leans into stillness, while I savour the slow, golden hours. When no one feels bound by an agenda, the memories feel effortless and genuinely ours,” she explains. That philosophy sits perfectly within the resort’s Endless Horizons concept, which encourages each guest to follow a personal path, whether that means time in the spa, a new water sport, a long lunch, or a walk through the mangroves.
SPA InterContinental is where her “effortless” mantra really comes to life. The space offers treatments alongside a state-of-the-art fitness centre and relaxation areas. Spending a morning there can entail a workout, followed by a massage, and then a dip in the outdoor pool with views of the coast.
And that setting, the Red Sea itself, is perhaps the resort’s greatest offering. “The purity and untouched natural beauty of the Red Sea genuinely amazed me. I’m obsessed with the sea in general, and this was mind-blowing. Swimming through those virgin waters and taking a boat to reefs so vibrant and untouched felt like discovering a hidden world. The corals were pristine, almost otherworldly – a rare kind of luxury that reconnects you with nature in the most humbling way,” she said.
Once everyone has had their fill of the spa and the sea, the next decision is usually choosing a place to eat. The resort offers five dining venues, ranging from Darein with its Moroccan and Levantine touches to Murrma, which serves sweets and coffee in a mangrove jungle-like setting, as well as Chimes with Mediterranean plates to share. Meanwhile, Ardo adds a South American option to the list, and The 305 brings a retro Miami mood with Latin American dishes and a cigar lounge. With both indoor tables and open-air terraces, there are spaces for every kind of season and celebrations, from birthday dinners to milestone anniversaries.
As she talked us through the fabulous dinners she enjoyed at the property, we naturally had to ask her what her favourite look was during the stay. “My burgundy oversized Miu Miu button-collared loose-fit sweater. It became my go-to layer – thrown over mini skirts for breezy breakfasts, paired with baggy trousers for relaxed evenings, and styled with loose linen fits whenever the sea breeze picked up. It has this slouchy, elevated nonchalance I adore. Now, slipping it on instantly transports me back to those warm, unhurried Red Sea days.”
If we take that sweater as a shorthand for her stay, then her time at InterContinental The Red Sea Resort was exactly that kind of luxury too, something she can always return to whenever the city pace starts to prove too much again.
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uly my North Star. Dubai isexhilarating, but the pace can be relentless — work, school, commitments, social noise.When I carve out intentional space for just us, everything recalibrates. It’s grounding,clarifying, and a reminder of what sits at the heart of everything I do,” she said.InterContinental The Red Sea Resort proves to be ideal for a break that satisfies all thoseneeds as it’s desgned for all ages, from toddlers to teens, and of course, the adults whobring them, positioning the property as a true multigenerational retreat in Saudi Arabia’smost exciting coastline