Radisson Blu has announced the opening of two new hotels in Saudi Arabia — Buraidah and Jeddah.
“We are pleased to continue our growth momentum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with two new hotel openings in the upper-upscale segment. We are set to open more than 10 hotels in the Kingdom this year alone,” said Mark Willis, area senior vice president, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, The Rezidor Hotel Group.
He added: “We are honored to continue building on our strong relationship with our owners and add a new dimension of world-class hospitality to the Saudi Arabian travel and tourism industry. WTTC forecasts a 9.8 percent increase in 2017 in investments related to travel and tourism in Saudi Arabia and Carlson Rezidor is privileged to be playing a leading role in the hospitality sector.”
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Al-Salam is Carlson Rezidor’s fourth hotel in Jeddah. It is located close to many of the city’s popular shopping destinations, and is a short distance from King Abdul Aziz International Airport.
The hotel has 142 rooms and suites, and features 10 meeting rooms and two ballrooms and a flexible space that can accommodate up to 800.
Rushdi Ashkar, general manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Jeddah Al-Salam: “The Radisson Blu team is extremely excited to open its fourth hotel in the city of Jeddah. Our portfolio grows from strength to strength in Saudi Arabia, and each of our hotels have their own distinctive style and service offering, but they all carry a strong united red thread of our legendary Yes I Can! service spirit. Our great meeting and event facilities will help build a strong reputation for hosting memorable events at Radisson Blu.”
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Buraidah is easily accessible from the Northern Ring Road and overlooks the city center, which is 5 km away. It is 25 km from the Prince Naif International Airport, which offers flights to both domestic and international destinations. Guests can also enjoy shopping at Al-Nakheel Plaza, a short distance from the hotel.
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Buraidah has 110 guest rooms and 12 villas. It has five meeting rooms and a flexible meeting space.
Tahar Chakray, general manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Buraidah, said: “We are proud to open the doors of the very first upper-upscale, internationally branded hotel in Buraidah. We look forward to showcasing the best of our Yes I Can! service spirit and award-winning hospitality standards to guests of Buraidah.”
Two new Radisson Blu hotels open in Saudi Arabia
Two new Radisson Blu hotels open in Saudi Arabia
Kuwait Fund for Development: Six decades of humanitarian and developmental impact across globe
On Dec. 31, the Kuwait Fund for Development marks the anniversary of its establishment, opening a new chapter of success and ambition as one of the most prominent pioneers of development on both regional and global levels. Founded in 1961, the fund became the first and oldest development institution to operate in Arab countries and other developing nations.
Today, after more than six decades of continuous work, the Kuwait Fund for Development remains steadfast in its mission and has never ceased its efforts to support development causes in developing countries. As it celebrates its 64th anniversary, the fund has drawn a national portrait under the theme “Partners in Development,” reflected through its projects spread across the globe, all of which aim to build brighter and more sustainable future.
An external development arm
The establishment of the Kuwait Fund for Development embodied a wise and visionary decision by the leadership of Kuwait at the time. Kuwait was the only developing country that chose to share the challenges of development with other developing nations, cooperating with them through the provision of concessional loans, grants, financial assistance, and technical support tailored to their development priorities.
Since its inception, the Kuwait Fund for Development has served as Kuwait’s external development arm, sparing no effort in supporting development causes and extending assistance to developing countries worldwide.
Vision and early beginnings
In the early 1960s, the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, then head of the financial department, proposed the idea of establishing a development entity that would serve Kuwait’s foreign policy and assist Arab and other developing countries in achieving development across various sectors. The idea received strong support from the late Amir Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, as it aligned with Kuwait’s vision at the time to build a modern state.
Consequently, an Amiri decree was issued on Dec. 31, 1961, establishing the Kuwait Fund for Development with an initial capital of 50 million Kuwaiti dinars ($162.6 million).
Global reach and development impact
The fund’s activities have extended to all corners of the world, contributing to the financing of projects in 106 countries, including 16 Arab countries, 41 African countries, 19 in East and South Asia and the Pacific, 17 in Central Asia and Europe, and 12 in Latin America and the Caribbean.
This support was delivered through 1,037 concessional loans provided to the governments of these countries, with a total value of approximately 7 billion Kuwaiti dinars. In addition, the fund has provided grants and technical assistance to support a wide range of development services, helping beneficiary countries implement their development programs. A total of 420 grants and technical assistance operations were extended, amounting to approximately 401 million Kuwaiti dinars.
Loan agreements
During the past year, the Kuwait Fund for Development signed several loan agreements supporting development across different regions of the world. Among these were two loan agreements with the government of Bahrain. The first loan, valued at 31.25 million Kuwaiti dinars, contributed to financing the Electricity Transmission Networks Development Project. The second loan, valued at 10 million Kuwaiti dinars, supported the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Highway Development Project (Phase II).
On the sidelines of the World Bank Group meetings held in Washington, D.C., the fund has also signed a 4 million Kuwaiti dinar-worth loan agreement with Saint Lucia to help finance the Sir Julian R. Hunte Highway Project, as well as another 4 million Kuwaiti dinar-worth loan agreement with Belize to support the George Price Highway Project.
Supporting and assisting refugees
The Kuwait Fund for Development’s contributions to humanitarian action stand out at both regional and international levels. Since its establishment, the fund has represented a unique model in supporting and assisting refugees in countries affected by disasters, conflicts, and wars, in line with Kuwait’s moderate and balanced policy.
These efforts have helped strengthen Kuwait’s relations with Arab and international partners. The fund has played a significant role in the reconstruction of Lebanon and Iraq following periods of crisis, and its assistance to the Palestinian people has never ceased.
International Participation
Over the past year, the Kuwait Fund for Development recorded notable participations in major international forums. These included taking part in the 2025 annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., with a delegation headed by the fund’s Acting Director General Walid Shamlan Al-Bahar. The fund also took part in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, held in Tokyo, Japan.
Additional international engagements included participation in the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Awaza, Turkmenistan, and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, organized by the UN in Seville, Spain.
