The hotel building sector is growing in the Middle East, and Starwood Hotels and Resorts plans to increase its presence with these 10 properties.

1. 10 BIG HOTELS INTHE
PIPELINE FOR GROWING
SAUDI MARKET
Ehsan Bayat

2. 10 Big Hotels in the Pipeline for Growing
Saudi Market
• The 2016 Arabian Hotel Investment Conference attracted almost 700 attendees
representing nearly 40 nations from around the world. During the proceedings,
Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Inc., a global hotel company with a 10-brand
portfolio, announced plans to open two new properties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Subsequently released details have confirmed a partnership with Saudi Real
Estate Company (Al-Akaria) to carry out the project.
• Both of the hotels will operate as components of a mixed-use real estate
development in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), and they are
projected for completion in 2022. Builders broke ground on KAFD in 2006, and the
new hotels will assist in drawing business prospects and commercial tenants to the
zone.

3. • Together, the five-starWestin Riyadh and the four-star Element Riyadh will bring
over 630 new rooms, studios, and suites to the region. Each property will feature
the Heavenly Bed experience unique to Starwood, and Element guests will benefit
from access to various leisure facilities at the Westin.The Element Riyadh will be
the premier hotel of its brand in Saudi Arabia.
• Westin Riyadh and Element Riyadh will add to the company’s portfolio of 10 hotels
already operating in Saudi Arabia, as well as the 11 other hotels slated for opening
in the coming years.With these additions, SaudiArabia will be the second-largest
market for Starwood in the region behind the United Arab Emirates.
• Prior to the completion of the recently announced Riyadh properties, Starwood
aims to more than double its Middle East portfolio by 2020.The count as of June
2016 is 53 hotels and resorts open for business, with 40 more in the planning and
development stages - eight of the Starwood lifestyle brands have at least one
location in the Middle East.
• Along with the Riyadh properties, Starwood has multiple additional hotels nearing
completion in Saudi Arabia. Here is a look at 10 of these soon-to-be-finished
projects:

4. Aloft Dhahran
• The Aloft Dhahran will be open as of August 2016. Ideal for business travelers and
vacationers, the 261-room hotel is in proximity to multiple leading corporate
offices, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and the Mall of
Dhahran.

5. Four Points by Sheraton JeddahTahlia
• The fourth Starwood property in Jeddah and the first Four Points, the Four Points
by Sheraton JeddahTahlia will open in January 2020, joining Le Meridien and
Sheraton. Situated on Al-Fitaihi Street, the hotel will include 180 guestrooms all
within close proximity to the local shopping district.

6. Four Points by Sheraton Mall of Arabia
• Opening in March 2017, the Four Points by Sheraton Mall of Arabia is a luxury hotel
adjoining the Mall of Arabia, an upscale shopping center.The Jeddah International
Airport is within five minutes of the Four Points.

7. Four Points by Sheraton Makkah
• One of several Starwood properties in Makkah, this new real estate installment
will create valuable space for individuals seeking to visit the city.With convenient
access to the local holy places, this 496-room hotel will enhance the experience of
visitors when it opens in May 2019.

8. Four Points by Sheraton MakkahAl
Naseem
• The Four Points by Sheraton Makkah Al Naseeem will set the record for the largest
property of its brand in the world when it opens in 2017. Located in the Al Naseem
district, the hotel will feature more than 1,000 rooms.

9. Sheraton Makkah Hotel
• Scheduled for completion in April 2017, the Sheraton Makkah Hotel will house 532
rooms and more than 2,000 square feet of event and meeting space.This property
also offers convenience for those who would like to perform religious rituals in a
peaceful environment.

10. TheWestin Makkah
• The Westin Makkah will open in conjunction with the Sheraton Makkah Hotel in
April 2017.With 513 rooms and facilities for meetings, weddings, and other events,
the hotel offers a variety of amenities for visitors to the area.

11. Aloft Riyadh
• Aloft Riyadh opens in July 2016, and the layout of this new hotel includes 238
guestrooms and five meeting areas. Starting with comprehensive audiovisual
setups, including flat-panel plasmaTVs, each of the meeting rooms is equipped
with the latest technology to aid with presentations.

12. Le Meridien Riyadh
• Set to open in March 2017, Le Meridien Riyadh will be the first hotel of its brand in
the city.The hotel will stand at 15 storeys with a mixture of guest rooms, suites,
restaurants, and meeting and event spaces. In addition, the property will feature
such amenities as an outdoor pool and a fitness center.

13. Four Points by Sheraton Unaizah
• The Four Points hotel in Unaizah, Saudi Arabia, is scheduled to open in 2019, and
the completed project will create 130 new guestrooms in the city. Designed as an
urban resort, the hotel will also feature a selection of recreational facilities and
more than 8,000 square feet of meeting space.