Region overview: 200,000 new hotel rooms lined up for Middle East [Infographic]
According to the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database, almost 650 hotel projects are currently in the pipeline across the Middle East, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the charge.
Our researchers have discovered that 646 more hotels with 198,814 rooms are already in progress throughout the Middle East, with little sign that the Covid19 crisis has dimmed the region’s appetite for upmarket hospitality. We find out when and where these spectacular new properties will appear.
Busy years lie ahead
The remainder of 2020 will bring 135 new hotels and 36,200 additional keys to the Middle East on current estimates – 80 of these schemes are now in the pre-opening phase. Another 206 properties are scheduled to go live in 2021, bringing 63,719 extra rooms into play.
113 projects are underway for 2022 and will yield 34,334 keys. Only 49 new hotels have been signed off for 2023, but new projects will likely be added in the coming years. 142 more hotels are on the books for 2024 and beyond.
The Middle East’s main national growth markets
The UAE takes the lead on a country-by-country basis with a whopping 226 new hotels on the cards, representing 69,689 additional rooms in total. Saudi Arabia comes in second with 168 projects, although the official key count is a staggering 75,468, hinting at the large average project size in the Kingdom.
Qatar and Turkey share third place with 47 hotels each, but Qatar comes out well ahead in terms of number of keys – almost double the equivalent figure from Turkey.
Elsewhere, Oman will see 36 new properties open, while 28 and 26 schemes will launch in Georgia and Israel respectively. Iraq, Bahrain and Kuwait conclude the list with 16, 14 and 13 openings each.
Top urban growth markets in the Middle East
Unsurprisingly, Dubai leads our rankings of the Middle East’s top urban growth markets, with 160 upcoming openings and 51,271 rooms being added to the city’s already well-established hotel market. Riyadh follows in a very distant second place with 42 projects and 9,639 keys, and Jeddah places third with 39 launches and 10,213 rooms.
Doha, meanwhile, will get 36 new hotels with 10,650 rooms. Interestingly, the holy city of Makkah takes the cake with only 30 openings but a staggering 33,538 keys, meaning the average new property there will boast over 1,100 rooms.
Muscat is next in line with 24 projects in the pipeline, equating to 5,090 new rooms for the Omani capital. Abu Dhabi clocks in with 21 new hotels and Ras al-Khaimah, another one of the Emirates, will see 18 properties open their doors. Tbilisi and Istanbul complete the leaderboard with 17 and 16 openings respectively.
Fastest-growing hotel brands in the Middle East
Hilton Hotels & Resorts and DoubleTree by Hilton share the top of the fastest-growing hotel brand chart with 18 projects each and 6,734 and 3,914 rooms respectively. Millennium Hotels sits in third place with a pipeline of 16 hotels and 5,311 keys.
In addition, Hilton Garden Inn will launch 15 properties with 3,379 rooms, while Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts will grow its brand by 13 projects and 6,733 rooms.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts and Courtyard by Marriott will each unveil 12 new properties, moreover, and The Address Hotels & Resorts and Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts are both planning 11 openings.
Hotel projects in the Middle East you don’t want to miss
The largest project currently underway in the Middle East is the 3,000-room Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia. Slated for completion in Q4 2022, this mammoth project will include several luxury hotels spread out over five islands in the Red Sea, as well as two resorts in the nearby mountains and the desert. It will also feature a yacht dock, entertainment facilities, fishing infrastructure and even an airport.
In Makkah, the 1,490-key Jabal Omar Address Makkah will open its doors in early 2021. The hotel is just steps away from the Grand Mosque and will occupy the two largest towers within its development – the bridge connecting the pair will undoubtedly be the project’s signature flourish. Apart from the hotel, Jabal Omar will offer residences, retail amenities, prayer areas and a variety of entertainment facilities.
Another head-turning development is the imposing Katara Towers Lusail Marina District, which will become a true landmark once it launches in early 2022. The 614-room hotel is at home in a uniquely designed structure made up of two arching towers that can be recognised from afar. Guests will have everything they need right at their fingertips, including a choice of rooms, suites and apartments, signature restaurants, boutiques, movie theatres and beautiful promenades on the property’s man-made satellite island.
Finally, in Ras al-Khaimah, the 548-key Al Mahara Resort by Cristal will offer rooms and suites, several F&B outlets, meeting rooms, a swimming pool, a wellness club, a spa and a gym. The resort will provide family-friendly services that put the needs of younger guests above all else and ensure the whole family will have an unforgettable stay. Kids’ amenities will include a pool, a club, a Sony PlayStation zone and other gaming facilities.
Many TOPHOTELNEWS articles draw on exclusive information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database. This subscription-based product includes details of thousands of hotel projects around the world, along with the key decision-makers behind them. Please note, our data may differ from records held by other organisations. Generally, the database focuses on four- and five-star schemes of significant scale; tracks projects in either the vision, pre-planning, planning, under-construction, pre-opening or newly opened phase; and covers newbuilds, extensions, refurbishments and conversions.