InterContinental The Red Sea Resort Transforms Saudi Marine Life Into Edible Art

From handcrafted coral formations to an exclusive signature dessert, this collaboration celebrates the natural beauty and biodiversity of The Red Sea

The relationship between gastronomy and art has become increasingly intertwined in recent years. Across the world's leading hospitality destinations, chefs are looking beyond the plate to create experiences that engage guests through storytelling, craftsmanship, and a deeper connection to place. The most compelling culinary experiences are no longer simply about flavour. They are about capturing the spirit of a destination and translating it into something memorable, immersive, and uniquely local.

At InterContinental The Red Sea Resort, that philosophy has taken shape through an ambitious collaboration celebrating one of Saudi Arabia's most extraordinary natural environments. Timed to coincide with World Chocolate Day, the resort has unveiled Echoes of the Red Sea, a large-scale edible artwork created by Executive Pastry Chef Raamin Samiyi and renowned Saudi-based cake artist Zeina Itani, founder of Zeina's Cakery.

The project reflects a broader movement within luxury hospitality towards destination-led gastronomy, where culinary experiences draw inspiration directly from the landscapes, cultures, and creative communities that surround them. For a destination such as The Red Sea, whose appeal is deeply connected to its marine ecosystem and remarkable natural beauty, the ocean itself provided the perfect starting point.

Inspired by the distinctive dolphin-shaped form of Shura Island and the vibrant underwater world that surrounds it, Echoes of the Red Sea takes the form of a monumental chocolate sculpture depicting a dolphin emerging from a landscape of coral reefs and marine life. Standing nearly 1.7 metres high and stretching 1.2 metres across, the installation weighs close to 200 kilograms and incorporates intricate handcrafted details designed to reflect the colours, textures, and movement of the Red Sea itself.

While the scale is impressive, what makes the project particularly interesting is its role as a celebration of Saudi creativity. The collaboration brings together two distinct artistic perspectives. Zeina Itani has become one of the Kingdom's most recognised cake artists through her ability to transform confectionery into sculptural works of art, while Chef Raamin has developed a reputation for creating desserts that draw inspiration from the destination and culture surrounding the resort. Together, they have created a work that exists somewhere between fine art, pastry craftsmanship, and storytelling.

The installation required close to one hundred hours of craftsmanship from concept to completion, demonstrating a level of detail and technical precision more commonly associated with large-scale art projects than traditional pastry work. Coral formations, seashells, and underwater textures emerge throughout the sculpture, creating a visual narrative that mirrors the biodiversity for which The Red Sea has become internationally recognised.

Increasingly, luxury hospitality is finding new ways to connect guests with the destinations they visit. Rather than simply observing a landscape, travellers are seeking opportunities to engage with it through food, culture, wellness, and creative experiences. In this context, Echoes of the Red Sea feels particularly relevant. It transforms a defining feature of the destination into an artistic and culinary experience that allows visitors to experience the story of the island in a completely unexpected way.

The collaboration extends beyond the installation itself. To accompany the unveiling, Chef Raamin has also created an exclusive dessert available throughout July at Murrma, the resort's dessert parlour known for speciality coffee and Arabic sweets. Named ZOA, after the zoanthid coral native to the Red Sea, the dessert combines an almond cake base with Earl Grey tea mousse, bergamot marmalade, and white chocolate decoration, drawing further inspiration from the marine environment that inspired the larger installation.

The result is an experience that moves beyond visual spectacle. Guests are invited not only to admire the artistry of the sculpture but also to engage with its narrative through flavour. It is a thoughtful extension of a concept that seeks to celebrate the destination through multiple senses.

As Saudi Arabia's hospitality sector continues to evolve, collaborations such as this highlight the increasingly important role creativity plays within the guest experience. Hotels and resorts are becoming platforms for cultural exchange, artistic expression, and local storytelling, creating experiences that resonate long after a stay has ended.

At InterContinental The Red Sea Resort, Echoes of the Red Sea serves as a reminder that gastronomy can be more than a meal and pastry can be more than dessert. In the hands of skilled artisans, both become a medium through which the story of a place can be told.