Hotel Round-up: 8 October

Top 3

Oman’s 9,600 new hotel rooms goal by 2030

Oman is set to expand its hospitality capacity by 9,600 hotel rooms by 2030, with 2,600 due by the end of 2025, according to Cavendish Maxwell. The growth will boost the country’s total supply by over 25%, supporting surging visitor demand and new tourism investments.

In the first half of 2025, 3-5-star hotel revenues rose 18.2% to OMR141 million ($367m), with occupancy averaging 55% (up 14% from H1 2024). Major developments are underway across Muscat, Salalah, and Jabal Akhdar, including new resorts, leisure attractions, and wellness destinations.

Saudi tightens tourism rules to keep hospitality local 

Saudi Arabia has introduced new tourism employment regulations aimed at prioritising local talent and curbing outsourcing across the hospitality sector. Under the new rules, hotels, resorts, and tour operators must hire Saudi nationals for designated roles, with outsourcing permitted only through licensed local firms.

All employees of tourism businesses must now be registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, while seasonal or temporary contracts must be processed through the Ajeer platform to ensure transparency. The regulations also mandate that every licensed hospitality property must employ a Saudi receptionist during working hours.

Mandarin Oriental’s flagship golf resort and branded residences set to open in 2030 

Mandarin Oriental is set to debut its first golf-focused resort and branded residences in Dubai with the opening of Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah Golf Estates in 2030, the group’s third property in the city.

It will be located in the Next Chapter development at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and will feature 121 rooms and suites and 97 luxury villas with private facilities. Included in the plans are a 5,000 sqm spa and wellness centre, male and female pools, meditation areas, and multiple restaurants. Guests and residents will have access to an 18-hole championship course, equestrian centre, and family-focused amenities including kids’ clubs and event spaces. 

Noteworthy 

1. Marriott International and Shamal Holding have announced The Dubai Beach EDITION, a luxury hotel and residences set to open in 2029 on the former Zero Gravity site at Dubai Harbour. The development will feature 185 hotel rooms and 165 residences, offering EDITION’s signature contemporary design, premium amenities, and beachfront views of the Arabian Gulf.
2. SLS The Red Sea has debuted in Saudi Arabia, bringing its signature bold design, high-end dining, and social energy to Shura Island. The 150-room resort features exclusive pool villas, five restaurants, a Ciel Spa, outdoor cinema, and vibrant entertainment spaces in close proximity to the island’s first golf course. 
3. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in partnership with the Ministries of Tourism and Municipalities, has launched a new temporary licensing system for pilgrim accommodations in Makkah and Madinah. Managed via the Nusuk Masar platform, the initiative streamlines registration, enhances service standards, and ensures coordinated bookings during peak Umrah and Hajj seasons.
4. IHG Hotels & Resorts has introduced Masarona by IHG, a new initiative designed to prepare Saudi nationals for leadership roles in hospitality. The program provides structured learning and career pathways through IHG University and complements existing talent platforms like IHG Academy and Journey to GM.
5. Minor Hotels has entered a joint venture with SUNRISE Resorts & Cruises to develop up to 50 hotels across Egypt over the next decade. The partnership includes new projects in West Cairo, Ain Al Sokhna, and the North Coast, plus the introduction of Anantara Hotels & Resorts and luxury river cruises along the Nile.
6. Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island has launched a fully automated in-house water bottling plant, eliminating 700,000 single-use plastic bottles annually. Developed with MYWATER, the system purifies and reuses glass bottles, cutting 600-650 tons of CO2 emissions each year.
7. Park Hyatt Dubai has been named in the top 20 in the Middle East World Hotels category in Conde Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. The recognition celebrates the property’s dedication to exceptional guest service, design, and hospitality, based on over 757,000 global reader responses.
8. Planet Ocean Underwater Hotels has launched its Global Alliance Collaborator (GAC) initiative in the UAE, inviting local partners to support movable underwater hotels at 33 global destinations. The project combines tourism with coral reef restoration creating new hospitality and conservation opportunities.