PrintPlast Partners with Six Senses Southern Dunes for Beech Wood Key Cards

PrintPlast is proud to partner with Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, the pioneering luxury resort that marked the first opening in Saudi Arabia's ambitious Red Sea Development. Nestled among the golden Khuff dunes near Umluj, this Foster + Partners-designed sanctuary draws inspiration from the ancient Nabataean heritage of the region.

For this extraordinary desert property, PrintPlast has crafted custom wooden RFID key cards from European beech wood, featuring an intricate geometric pattern that echoes the architectural language of the resort and the timeless artistry of Arabian design.

Six Senses Southern Dunes beech wood key cards: front featuring geometric Arabian patterns, back with Six Senses branding

Our Process: Crafting for the Desert

When Six Senses Southern Dunes approached PrintPlast, the desert environment presented a unique challenge. With temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C and humidity levels dropping below 20%, we needed a wood species that would remain dimensionally stable under extreme thermal stress. European beech emerged as the ideal choice, its tight, uniform grain structure and natural density make it exceptionally resistant to warping in arid conditions.

The pale cream tone of beech wood also presented a perfect canvas for the intricate laser engraving. Unlike darker woods where fine details can be lost, beech provides high contrast when laser-burned, allowing the geometric Art Deco patterns to emerge with crisp definition. We calibrated our laser settings specifically for this project, a slower pass at lower power to achieve the warm brown engraving that complements the wood's natural color without charring.

Design & Craftsmanship

The key card design features a sophisticated geometric pattern inspired by traditional Arabian artistry. The front showcases an intricate border of interlocking diamond shapes surrounding a central medallion with the tagline "Your Key to Discovery." Four decorative circular elements anchor each corner, while the reverse displays the iconic Six Senses logo, six dots arranged in their signature formation, along with "Southern Dunes, The Red Sea" branding.

• Material, FSC-certified European beech wood, known for its stability and fine grain
• Dimensions, Standard credit card size (85.5mm × 54mm), 1.4mm thickness
• Technology, Embedded contactless RFID chip for seamless room access
• Finish, Natural matte texture preserving the authentic wood feel

A Desert Sanctuary

Six Senses Southern Dunes stands as the inaugural resort of The Red Sea mega-project, spanning 28,000 square kilometers along Saudi Arabia's western coast. Designed by Foster + Partners, the property features 36 villas arranged to embrace the surrounding dunes, with architecture that pays homage to the region's Nabataean heritage, the ancient trading civilization that carved the rose-red city of Petra.

Located along the historic incense trade route with the Hijaz Mountains as a dramatic backdrop, the resort embodies Six Senses' philosophy of sustainable luxury. Every element, from the renewable energy systems to the preservation of the pristine desert ecosystem, reflects a commitment to responsible hospitality that PrintPlast is honored to support.