RIU Hotels & Resorts has officially opened the Riu Palace Swahili in Zanzibar, unveiling a new adults-only, five-star beachfront resort that strengthens the Spanish group’s footprint in East Africa and adds fresh momentum to the Indian Ocean’s high-end tourism market.

Positioned on Nungwi Beach at the northern tip of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago, the property debuted on January 30, 2026 as RIU’s third hotel in Tanzania and its most ambitious project yet on the island.

Aerial view of Riu Palace Swahili resort at sunrise, highlighting infinity pools, beach, and luxury villas.

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A Flagship Opening on Zanzibar’s Nungwi Coast

The Riu Palace Swahili has been conceived as a flagship for the brand in the Indian Ocean, anchoring RIU’s growing cluster of properties in the Nungwi area. The resort sits alongside Riu Palace Zanzibar and Riu Jambo, consolidating a substantial concentration of inventory and services on one of the island’s most sought-after stretches of sand. With this opening, RIU now operates three large seafront properties within a short distance of each other, creating a near campus-style environment where guests can benefit from complementary facilities and shared entertainment concepts.

The new-build hotel brings 505 rooms to market, all designed in a contemporary, elegant style that reflects the Palace sub-brand’s focus on elevated comfort and premium finishes. Most units face toward the Indian Ocean, many with terraces or balconies that frame the Nungwi coastline, an area long known for its turquoise waters, sunsets and year-round swimmable beach conditions. The adult-only positioning is aimed squarely at couples, honeymooners and groups of friends seeking a quieter, resort-style experience away from family-centric product.

RIU executives have described the Zanzibar opening as the “missing piece” in the company’s long-term plan for the destination, rounding out a portfolio that now covers both luxury all-inclusive and more family-oriented segments on the island. By concentrating three sizeable hotels in Nungwi, the group gains operational efficiencies while strengthening its bargaining power with airlines and tour operators, particularly from core European markets.

Elite Club Debuts With Villas and Private Pools

One of the most notable features of Riu Palace Swahili is the debut of Elite Club by RIU in Zanzibar, a premium service tier that the company has been rolling out across selected resorts worldwide. At this property, Elite Club encompasses 76 rooms, configured to deliver an elevated level of privacy and exclusivity within the wider complex. According to RIU, 52 of these units are villas equipped with private swimming pools, while the remaining 24 offer front-line sea views over the Indian Ocean.

Elite Club guests receive a series of perks that differentiate their stay from the standard all-inclusive experience. These include access to an exclusive Elite Club restaurant with a more curated culinary offer, a reserved beach area furnished with Balinese beds and dedicated drinks service, and entry to a private Elite Club lounge serving branded beverages and premium snacks. Additional touches, such as aromatherapy amenities in rooms and a separate check-in area, are designed to underscore the upscale positioning.

For RIU, the Elite Club launch in Zanzibar is intended to appeal to higher-spend travelers who might otherwise look to boutique villas or small luxury hotels on the island. The combination of private-pool villas, all-inclusive convenience and a big-resort entertainment and facilities package is pitched as a hybrid between independent villa living and full-service resort stays. It also strengthens RIU’s capacity to attract long-haul guests from markets like North America, where demand for premium adults-only all-inclusive resorts has grown strongly in recent years.

All-Inclusive Focus: Restaurants, Bars and Pools

True to the RIU model, Riu Palace Swahili has launched with a 24-hour all-inclusive formula that blends buffet and à la carte dining, extensive bar service and a full program of day and night activities. Gastronomy plays a central role. The main Karibu restaurant offers international buffet selections with show-cooking stations and a large terrace, allowing guests to dine outdoors while taking in sea breezes and sunset views. Around this core, a cluster of specialty venues expand the culinary range.

Among them are Krystal, the Palace brand’s signature fusion restaurant; Duomo, focused on Italian classics; Helios, highlighting Mediterranean dishes; and a steakhouse concept designed around grilled meats and hearty sides. A Pepe’s Food kiosk serves fast-casual bites during daytime hours, responding to demand from pool and beach users who prefer not to break from the sun for a full restaurant meal. The mix is tailored to European tastes while incorporating local ingredients and regional influences where possible.

The bar offering is equally extensive, with six distinct concepts at launch. Guests can move between the Lounge Bar and Daiquiri bar, the Masai Plaza bar, the Konyagi pool bar, an aquatic bar integrated into one of the pools, and Capuchino, which doubles as a café and ice cream shop. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, coffees and snacks are included within the all-inclusive framework, supporting the resort’s positioning as a full-service, worry-free stay where most spending is prepaid before arrival.

Outside, the resort has been designed around multiple water features, including at least two expansive infinity pools that visually blend into the Indian Ocean. A third pool adds capacity in high season and provides more secluded areas for relaxation. Spacious sun decks, shaded loungers and easy beach access aim to disperse guests, avoiding the crowded feel that can affect large resorts at peak occupancy.

RIU Party and Shared Entertainment Concept

The opening of Riu Palace Swahili also marks the introduction of RIU Party to Tanzania, a branded entertainment format that the group has popularized in destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean. In Zanzibar, weekly RIU Party events are set to take place every Friday at neighboring Riu Jambo, and will be accessible to guests from all three RIU resorts on the island. The parties feature DJ-led music sessions, themed decor, costumes and live performers, turning the evening into a festival-style gathering for adults.

During the day, Riu Palace Swahili runs a full activities program aligned with the chain’s RIU Fit and entertainment standards. Organized fitness classes, games, poolside activities and social events are scheduled to encourage guest interaction and keep energy levels high for those who prefer a more active holiday. In the evenings, live music and shows are staged on property, with programming that alternates between local cultural performances and international-style entertainment.

This shared entertainment ecosystem allows RIU to diversify the guest experience without duplicating every element in each hotel. Palace Swahili can emphasize a slightly more tranquil, upscale ambiance within its confines, while guests still have access to livelier or larger-scale happenings at Riu Jambo when they want them. For the Nungwi area, the presence of regular, branded events adds a new dimension to the nightlife offer, which has historically been more fragmented and small-scale compared with island resorts in other parts of the Indian Ocean.

Wellness, Sport and Access to the Sea

Beyond its core focus on sun, sea and social life, Riu Palace Swahili has been equipped with a range of wellness and sports facilities to appeal to guests seeking balance on their vacations. The on-site Renova Spa includes a relaxation pool, steam bath and several treatment rooms where therapists offer massages, body therapies and beauty services. With rising global demand for holistic and spa-driven holidays, this component is increasingly seen as essential in the upper-upscale segment.

A fully equipped gym allows fitness-focused travelers to maintain routines during their stay, with both cardio and strength-training machines and space for stretching or functional workouts. Group fitness sessions under the RIU Fit program, such as aqua aerobics or stretching classes, take advantage of the pools and outdoor decks and are built into the entertainment schedule. For those who prefer low-impact activity, the extensive beachfront offers space for walking or running on sand, and the relatively gentle lagoon conditions off Nungwi are well-suited to casual swimming.

Through cooperation with Riu Jambo, guests of Riu Palace Swahili can also access non-motorized water sports including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding provided at the adjacent resort. This shared sports offer aligns with a broader trend in the Indian Ocean market, where hotels increasingly aim to bundle soft adventure and water-based experiences into standard packages, reducing the need for guests to book third-party services during their stay.

Strategic Expansion in Zanzibar’s Competitive Market

The launch of Riu Palace Swahili comes at a time when Zanzibar is strengthening its status as one of Africa’s fastest-growing long-haul beach destinations. International arrivals to Tanzania have been rebounding strongly, and the semi-autonomous archipelago has positioned itself as a complementary extension to classic mainland safari itineraries. The island’s combination of heritage, spice history and beaches has drawn growing interest from both European and emerging markets in recent years.

For RIU and parent group TUI, investing in a third, large-scale resort in Nungwi constitutes a vote of confidence in Zanzibar’s medium-term prospects. The new opening also dovetails with broader expansion plans in Africa, where TUI-linked properties now number more than one hundred across nine countries. Within this network, Zanzibar is being marketed as a premium Indian Ocean alternative to better-known destinations such as Mauritius and the Maldives, benefitting from relatively competitive price points and improved direct air connectivity from Europe and the Middle East.

At the same time, the upscale adults-only positioning of Riu Palace Swahili places it in direct competition with independent boutique hotels and a growing number of branded resorts across the island. Success will depend not only on RIU’s established distribution channels and package-tour strength, but also on the ability of the property to differentiate through service, facilities and consistent delivery of its premium promise. The introduction of Elite Club and RIU Party, along with the scale and amenity mix of the new hotel, are central to that strategy.

Local stakeholders are watching closely to see how the resort’s opening contributes to employment, supply chain development and community engagement in the Nungwi area, which has transformed from a fishing village into one of Zanzibar’s busiest tourism hubs over the past two decades. RIU has emphasized that the hotel is being integrated into the company’s sustainability framework, although detailed local initiatives are expected to be rolled out gradually following the opening period.

FAQ

Q1. When did Riu Palace Swahili officially open in Zanzibar?
The Riu Palace Swahili opened to guests on January 30, 2026, becoming RIU’s third hotel in Tanzania and its latest resort in the Nungwi area of Zanzibar.

Q2. Where is the Riu Palace Swahili located on the island?
The resort is situated on Nungwi Beach at the northern tip of Unguja, the main island in the Zanzibar archipelago, in a coastal zone known for clear water, sunsets and year-round swimming conditions.

Q3. Is Riu Palace Swahili an adults-only property?
Yes. Riu Palace Swahili is marketed as an adults-only resort, designed primarily for couples, honeymooners and adult groups seeking a quieter, child-free environment.

Q4. How many rooms does the new hotel have?
The hotel has a total of 505 rooms, including standard rooms and higher-category units, with many facing the sea or gardens and designed in the contemporary style associated with the Riu Palace brand.

Q5. What is the Elite Club at Riu Palace Swahili?
Elite Club by RIU is a premium service category within the hotel that comprises 76 rooms, including 52 villas with private pools and 24 rooms with prime sea views, along with exclusive restaurant access, a reserved beach area, a private lounge and other upgraded services.

Q6. What type of dining options are available on site?
The resort operates on a 24-hour all-inclusive basis and features the main Karibu buffet restaurant plus specialty venues such as the Krystal fusion restaurant, Duomo for Italian cuisine, Helios with a Mediterranean focus, a steakhouse and a Pepe’s Food snack outlet.

Q7. Does the hotel offer entertainment and nightlife?
Yes. Guests can enjoy a full program of daytime activities, evening shows with live music and access to the RIU Party concept, with weekly themed events held at the nearby Riu Jambo and open to guests from all three RIU hotels in Zanzibar.

Q8. What wellness and fitness facilities are available?
The hotel includes a Renova Spa with a relaxation pool, steam bath and treatment rooms for massages and therapies, as well as a gym and RIU Fit classes that offer instructor-led workouts and pool-based activities.

Q9. Can guests practice water sports during their stay?
Guests have direct access to the sea from Nungwi Beach and can make use of non-motorized water sports such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding through facilities at the adjacent Riu Jambo, which are available to Riu Palace Swahili guests.

Q10. How does Riu Palace Swahili fit into RIU’s wider plans in Africa?
The opening of Riu Palace Swahili forms part of a broader expansion strategy in Africa for RIU and the TUI group, strengthening a cluster of hotels in Zanzibar and contributing to a portfolio of more than one hundred properties across the continent’s key holiday destinations.