Riyadh, Saudi Arabia : Rotana, one of the largest hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey, intends to expand its presence in the Saudi market, which is the group’s second largest market after the United Arab Emirates, through expansion plans that include the establishment of 10 new hotels comprising 1,314 hotel rooms, thereby raising its total portfolio in the Kingdom to 23 hotels by 2027.

In addition, Rotana signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority on the sidelines of the Future Hospitality Summit , with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the two parties in the areas of marketing and tourism promotion, and establishing a joint framework that includes launching marketing campaigns for Saudi tourist destinations, implementing joint promotional initiatives, enhancing digital integration between the two sides, in addition to benefiting from aspects of cooperation between loyalty programs and coordinating global marketing efforts to attract travelers from around the world.

It is worth noting that Rotana currently manages 13 hotel properties in a number of the Kingdom’s most prominent cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Makkah, Dammam, Khobar, and Jubail, reflecting its strong presence across the Kingdom’s most important commercial, religious, and tourist destinations. The upcoming projects will further enhance this expansion and open new horizons for growth in a number of emerging markets and destinations.

The new projects include the opening of Edge by Rotana hotels in several vibrant neighborhoods in the capital, Riyadh, in addition to a new project in the historic Al-Balad district of Jeddah. The Al-Baha region will also witness the entry of the Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana and Rayhaan by Rotana brands for the first time, while the Centro by Rotana brand will make its first appearance in the city of Hail.

This carefully planned expansion, which includes 10 hotels and 1,314 hotel rooms, reflects Rotana’s strategy to keep pace with the rapid growth of emerging tourist destinations in the Kingdom, as well as to strengthen its presence in key centers, in line with the transformations taking place in the Saudi tourism and hospitality sector. This will bring the number of Rotana hotels in the Kingdom to 23 by 2027.

Commenting on this move , Eddy Tannous, Chief Operating Officer of Rotana Hotels, said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Rotana’s fastest growing market, and the expansion plan we are unveiling today reflects the growing demand for the hospitality sector in the Kingdom. It also confirms our firm commitment to expanding our presence there in a way that creates sustainable value for our partners, guests, and the communities in which we operate. The memorandum of understanding with the Saudi Tourism Authority is a natural extension of this vision, and through it, we look forward to strengthening our joint efforts to introduce the Kingdom and its rich cultural and heritage assets and exceptional hospitality experiences to travelers from around the world.”

This announcement follows the recent opening of the Edge Riyadh - Al Rabie Hotel, the first of seven properties to be launched as part of the strategic multi-hotel partnership with Maamar Development and Investment Company, reflecting Rotana’s confidence in the Saudi hospitality market, which continues to achieve rapid growth with the flourishing of the business travel, leisure, domestic tourism and religious tourism sectors.

For his part, Makram El Zyr, Regional Vice President of Development at Rotana , said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of Rotana’s most strategic markets, and our goal of reaching 23 hotels by 2027 is a testament to our firm belief in the exceptional potential this market offers.”

He added: “Our partnership with Maamar, which will result in the opening of seven hotels under the Edge by Rotana brand across the Kingdom, is a strong model of long-term cooperation that contributes to achieving qualitative and sustainable growth. Each project within the development plan was carefully selected, whether in major commercial centers or in promising destinations that are witnessing increasing demand from local travelers. The Kingdom is a market that rewards long-term vision and real commitment, and we are continuing to translate this commitment into tangible projects that support the growth of the sector and enhance the guest experience.”

The new expansion plan also includes the Centro Hail Hotel, whose agreement was recently signed in partnership with Al-Khorayef Investment and Development Company and the Tourism Development Fund. It will be located at the entrance to the northern cities of the Kingdom, making Centro Hail the first hotel of its kind in the city, offering a modern concept that combines innovative designs, open social spaces, and flexible co-working areas, meeting the aspirations of the new generation of travelers and keeping pace with the development of the tourism scene in the region.

This expansion reflects the widening scope of opportunities in the hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia. In addition to major cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, other promising cities like Hail are emerging as destinations that are attracting increasing interest from investors and visitors, driven by government investments in infrastructure and ongoing efforts to develop new tourist destinations within the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. From this perspective, Rotana's entry into these emerging markets is not just an expansionary step, but reflects strategic confidence in the future of the tourism sector in the Kingdom and a commitment to growth in parallel with the transformations taking place in its travel and tourism landscape.

Growth plans that keep pace with the tourism transformation in the Kingdom

The Kingdom continues to consolidate its position as one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the world, with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism reporting that it will receive about 122 million visitors during 2025, with total tourism spending amounting to 300 billion Saudi riyals, which makes the Kingdom closer to achieving the Vision 2030 target of attracting 150 million visitors annually.

Domestic tourism is a key pillar of this rapid growth; local travelers accounted for 46.6 million visitors out of 60.9 million visitors during the first half of 2025, with an average stay of 18.6 nights per trip. This momentum has contributed to redrawing the map of tourism demand within the Kingdom, going beyond the main cities towards new destinations that are experiencing rapid growth, such as Abha, Hail and Al-Baha, which are attracting increasing numbers of Saudis looking for diverse recreational, cultural and natural experiences within the Kingdom.

Today, Saudi Arabia is Rotana’s largest development market outside the United Arab Emirates, and the group’s continued expansion reflects the promising opportunities offered by the Saudi tourism sector, as well as its long-term commitment to supporting its growth and development.

As it continues to add new hotels and brands to its portfolio across the Kingdom, Rotana Group continues to expand into new and emerging markets, while maintaining its unwavering commitment to innovation, sustainability and a guest-first philosophy, ensuring that every stay embodies its timeless promise, "With us, time has meaning."

About Rotana:

Rotana is one of the region’s leading hospitality companies. Founded in Abu Dhabi in 1992, it now manages a portfolio of more than 119 hotel properties in operation and development across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey. With its unwavering focus on quality and guest satisfaction, Rotana manages six distinct brands: Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts, Arjaan Hotel Apartments, Edge by Rotana and The Residences by Rotana.

As a member of the Global Hotel Alliance ( GHA ), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, Rotana is part of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty program and offers guests exclusive benefits at more than 900 hotels in 100 countries.

Thanks to its brand promise, "With us, time has meaning," Rotana continues to expand its presence in key markets while delivering trusted hospitality experiences that reflect the essence of its authentic brand.

For more information, please visit the website: www.rotana.com

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