Award-Winning Portuguese Chef Ana Magalhães Leads the Culinary Vision at Tabrah, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Manal Saleh

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is proud to spotlight Chef Ana Magalhães, the award-winning Portuguese Chef de Cuisine now shaping Tabrah, one of the Reserve's most distinctive dining destinations on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast.

In 2022, Chef Ana became the first woman in more than two decades to win Chefe do Ano (Chef of the Year), Portugal's most prestigious culinary competition. With over six years in Michelin-starred kitchens, she cooks to a clear philosophy: fire, seasonal ingredients, and a sustainable, zero-waste approach, with a passion for fermentation and traditional preservation that honors both heritage and innovation.

"Cooking, for me, begins with respect, for the ingredient, for the season, and for the people who grew or caught it," said Chef Ana Magalhães. "At Nujuma, surrounded by the Red Sea and its produce, I have a canvas that matches the way I've always wanted to cook."

At Tabrah, that philosophy runs through a newly launched menu: wood-fired scarlet prawns, charred seabass and lacto-fermented preparations alongside locally sourced Red Sea catch, with Portuguese touchstones like caldeirada and piri-piri reimagined for the Reserve.

Her arrival also marks the debut of From Port to Port, Tabrah's newest Chef's Table experience, a tasting menu inspired by the historic maritime routes linking Asia, Africa, Europe and the Arabian Peninsula. Each course is a different port: guests depart Belawan (Asia) and Cape Town (Africa), journey through Aden (Yemen) and Umluj on Saudi Arabia's own Red Sea coast, cross at Alexandria (Egypt), and arrive, fittingly, at Lisbon, the port Chef Ana calls home.

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About Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Tucked away in the remote Ummahat Islands along Saudi Arabia’s ecologically rich Red Sea coast, Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve invites guests to experience a new paradigm of sustainable luxury and immersive hospitality. As the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Middle East, Nujuma marks a landmark addition to the brand’s prestigious global portfolio.

This secluded sanctuary features 65 elegantly designed beach and overwater villas, each offering expansive living spaces, panoramic sea views, and private pools. Inspired by the natural curves of seashells and built with locally sourced materials, the architecture pays homage to the region’s heritage and environment.

Guests can indulge in curated culinary journeys across four distinctive dining venues, where modern gastronomy is elevated by thoughtful storytelling and authentic flavors. Every experience at Nujuma, from wellness at the Neyrah Spa, to stargazing and marine exploration is crafted to connect guests to the rhythms of nature and the spirit of Saudi Arabia.

With a deep commitment to regenerative tourism, cultural authenticity, and meaningful connection, Nujuma is not simply a destination, it is a rare journey into the heart of refined discovery.