Riyadh, Saudi Arabia    Rotana, one of the largest hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey, announced the signing of an agreement with Zawaya Real Estate, a Saudi real estate developer with more than a decade of experience in developing commercial, residential and mixed-use projects across the Kingdom, to create the “Residences by Rotana” project within the “Thakher” project, a mixed-use destination valued at SAR 26 billion, located one and a half kilometers from the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

This agreement represents the first entry of the "Residences by Rotana" brand into the Saudi market, and also constitutes Rotana's first presence in the branded hotel residences sector, thus raising the group's total portfolio, including existing and under-development facilities, to 24 facilities distributed across five brands.

The announcement comes at a time when the Kingdom’s branded hotel residences sector is witnessing increasing interest from international investors, as Knight Frank’s “Destination Saudi Arabia 2026” report indicates that $3.4 billion in global private investments have been allocated to enter this sector, with particular interest from investors in both Makkah and Madinah.

Commenting on this move, Makram Alzeer, Vice President of Business Development at Rotana, said: “The branded hotel residences sector, along with fully serviced hotel apartments, is currently experiencing rapid growth in the Kingdom, and this agreement reflects our firm belief in the great potential that this sector offers.”

He added: “The Residences by Rotana project in Thakher is our first project of this type in the Kingdom, and Makkah is one of the destinations where we see promising opportunities for long-term growth, due to its high demand and exceptional status. In addition, we see promising opportunities for the growth of the Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana brand in the Kingdom, given the increasing demand for long-term accommodation options that combine quality and flexibility.”

The agreement was signed on July 7, 2026 at the headquarters of Zawaya Real Estate Company in Riyadh, by Makram Al-Zayer, Vice President of Business Development at Rotana, and Khaled Qureshi, Head of Consulting and Investments at Zawaya Real Estate Company, in the presence of Mohammed Al-Thaqafi, CEO of the company.

The project will include 240 fully serviced hotel apartments within the Thakher project, offering an experience that combines the privacy of accommodation with the level of hotel services for which Rotana is famous.

The project was designed to meet the needs of long-term residents, business people, as well as pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors that Makkah receives throughout the year in response to the large demand for the holy city, and the increasing demand for hospitality options that go beyond the concept of traditional hotel accommodation.

For his part, Mohammed Al-Thaqafi, CEO of Zawaya Real Estate, said: “Our vision at Zawaya Real Estate stems from the conviction that distinguished real estate projects combine quality design with sustainable investment value, and our partnership with Rotana embodies this vision. We chose Rotana because of its extensive regional experience, strong brand, and deep understanding of the aspirations of guests and residents in this market. Together, we look forward to delivering a new experience in the branded hotel residences sector, contributing to setting a new standard for this sector in Makkah, and embodying the ambitions upon which the Thakher project is based.”

Makkah occupies a pivotal position within the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 due to its impact on the growth of the hospitality sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom seeks to receive 30 million Umrah pilgrims and 6 million Hajj pilgrims annually by 2030, and is working to add 250,000 hotel rooms in the two holy cities to meet the increasing demand for them.

The Thakher project is one of the main projects supporting these objectives, as it is valued at 26 billion Saudi riyals, and extends over an area of 320,000 square meters, and is located one and a half kilometers from the Grand Mosque. It was designed to accommodate more than 1.6 million visitors, pilgrims and Umrah performers when it is completed, and it has recorded full occupancy during the Hajj seasons over the past two years.

This project adds to Rotana’s growing portfolio in the Kingdom, which currently includes 13 hotel properties in operation in Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Makkah, Dammam, Khobar and Jubail, in addition to 10 confirmed projects under construction, providing 1,314 hotel keys in Riyadh, Jeddah, Hail, Abha and Al-Baha.

With the entry of "Residences by Rotana" into the Kingdom for the first time, the group's total portfolio, including existing and developing properties, rises to 24 properties spread across five brands, reflecting Rotana's long-term commitment to the Saudi market, which continues to strengthen its position as one of the group's most important and strategically significant growth markets.

Saudi Arabia is currently Rotana’s fastest-growing market and its largest development market outside the UAE. As the group continues to expand its presence through the launch of new brands, entry into promising destinations, and the forging of strategic partnerships, Rotana continues to deliver on its brand promise, “With us, time has meaning.”

About Rotana

Rotana is one of the region’s leading hospitality companies. It was founded in Abu Dhabi in 1992 and today manages a portfolio of more than 116 hotel properties in operation and development in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey.

The group operates six brands: Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts, Arjaan Hotel Apartments, Edge by Rotana, and Residences by Rotana, as part of its ongoing commitment to providing high-quality hospitality experiences that meet the aspirations of different guest groups.

As a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, Rotana is part of the GHA Discovery loyalty program, one of the world’s largest loyalty programs for independent hotel brands, which allows members to take advantage of exclusive benefits across more than 1,000 hotels, resorts and palaces belonging to 50 hotel brands in 100 countries.

Rotana continues to expand its presence in its key markets, building on its brand promise of “With us, time has meaning,” while ensuring reliable hospitality experiences that reflect its values and ongoing commitment to enhancing the guest experience.

For more information, please visit:

www.rotana.com

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