Top 3 Headlines
Raffles Jeddah opens on the Red Sea Corniche
Accor’s Raffles Hotels & Resorts has opened Raffles Jeddah, its second property in Saudi Arabia. The luxury hotel features 182 guestrooms, including 40 suites, with Red Sea views, Hejazi-inspired design, butler service, spa facilities and event spaces. The opening strengthens Jeddah’s luxury supply as Saudi Arabia continues building out high-end coastal hospitality. It started taking bookings from 25 May 2026, positioning the property as a major new luxury address on Jeddah’s historic Corniche.
Anantara marks 25 Years with global expansion drive
Anantara Hotels & Resorts is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a global campaign highlighting the brand’s growth from a single resort in Thailand to a luxury portfolio spanning more than 50 properties across 24 countries.
Launched in 2001 by Minor International, the brand has since expanded across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, with further growth planned across Japan, Australia, Egypt, Croatia, Argentina and the US. To mark the milestone, Anantara has launched its “25 Years of Unforgettable Journeys” campaign, alongside a “People Who Inspire” series spotlighting 25 team members across the brand.
Saudi Arabia’s 358,000 hotel boom
Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is entering one its fastest growth phases in global tourism, with more than 358,000 new hotel rooms planned across the Kingdom as it prepares for major international events including Expo 2030 Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup 2034.
The rapid expansion is being driven by rising visitor numbers, with Saudi Arabia welcoming 122 million tourists in 2025 and targeting 150 million annual visitors by 2030. Around 76% of hotel rooms currently under development are in the luxury and upper-upscale segments.
Noteworthy
- Hospitality leaders at the 500KR Hospitality Conference highlighted Egypt’s long-term tourism growth potential, pointing to stronger air connectivity, operational efficiency and coordinated destination development as key opportunities over the next five years. Egypt currently has 42 operating hotels and more than 15,000 rooms, with significant pipeline growth planned across Cairo, Ain Sokhna and the North Coast.
- Red Sea Global has opened reservations for Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea on Shura Island, marking the developer’s first resort created as a joint venture. The 149-room luxury resort includes six dining venues and direct access to Saudi Arabia’s first island golf course.
- Hotels across Bahrain are reporting strong Eid Al Adha demand from GCC travellers, with properties rolling out staycation offers, culinary experiences and family-focused entertainment. Hospitality leaders say bookings from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain are driving the recovery in regional leisure travel activity.
- The Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia, is taking place in Riyadh from 22-24 June. The 2025 edition attracted more than 1,100 industry leaders, including 254 investors managing a combined US$5.6 trillion in assets, and generated over US$1.6 billion in business opportunities.
