Movenpick Hotel and Residences Hajar Tower Makkah has announced the appointment of Adel Erfan as general manager for the 1,200-room property, which is located in the heart of Makkah.
Adel is tasked with managing all hotel departmental operations as well as enhancing the presence and profile of one of Makkah’s landmark hotels.
Egyptian national and holder of a degree from the faculty of education, English department, Adel has over 32 years of experience within the hospitality industry in the GCC.
He spent 18 years with Le Meridien Hotels and then moved to Movenpick Hotels and Resorts as GM at Movenpick Hotel Qassim, the only 5-star hotel in Al-Qassim area.
During his time at the property he was responsible for successfully growing market share and increasing profitability. He then moved to Movenpick Hotel Jeddah, where he delivered significant revenue growth over the last two years
Commenting on the appointment, Musaed Al-Saber, CEO of Hajar Tower Real Estate Co., said: “I am delighted to welcome Adel Erfan to Makkah for this high profile management position. His extensive experience, talent and ability to lead productive teams will undoubtedly help us to deliver the high standards and exceptional service guests expect from Movenpick Hotel Makkah.”
In a career that has covered all sectors and many different markets, Adel’s in-depth knowledge of the industry will prove invaluable to Movenpick Hotel Makkah.
In his new role, Adel’s responsibilities will include overseeing operations at the 1,200-room property, a team of over 600 staff, five F&B venues as well as recruitment, development, training, scheduling and guest satisfaction.
Movenpick Makkah appoints new GM
Movenpick Makkah appoints new GM
25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum
The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.
Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts.
The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies.
The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment.
The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored.
It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track.
In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs.
This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.
The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts.
The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.
