Riu Palace Swahili opened in February 2026 as RIU Hotels & Resorts’ third Nungwi property and the brand’s first Elite Club hotel in Zanzibar. The hotel is adults-only and operates on a 24-hour all-inclusive basis, occupying approximately 200 metres of the shared Nungwi beachfront alongside sister properties Riu Jambo and Riu Palace Zanzibar. With 505 rooms and an elevated design philosophy in line with the Riu Palace range, the resort combines the scale of a full all-inclusive destination with a more sophisticated level of finish and service than standard beach resort properties.
The Elite Club by RIU occupies a dedicated section of 76 rooms 52 with private swimming pools and 24 with premium sea views with its own restaurant, exclusive beach area with Balinese beds, separate check-in, branded drinks, and aromatherapy amenities. The wider resort features two infinity pools, seven restaurants (including the Karibu main restaurant, Krystal fusion, Duomo Italian, Helios Mediterranean, a steakhouse, and Pepe’s snack bar), and six bars including the Madafu swim-up bar. The Renova Spa provides a relaxation pool, steam bath, and full treatment menu. Evening entertainment, live music, and a daytime activities programme are included daily.
Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) is approximately 55–60km from Nungwi, about a 1-hour drive north along the island. The hotel arranges airport transfers. Daily flights connect Zanzibar with Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and other regional hubs.
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