NAIROBI: Hilton Worldwide Holdings plans to more than double its hotels in Africa in the next five years by mainly striking deals with existing hotels for conversion into its brand, its chief executive said.
International chains, including Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels, have been increasing their investments in Africa, which has some of the world’s fastest growing economies and a rising middle class.
Hilton plans to introduce its Curio Collection, an upscale hotel brand, on the continent, starting with a hotel at Lagos airport in Nigeria, Chris Nassetta, the company’s president and CEO, said.
“This hotel is a part of our strategy to connect guests to key cities and airport locations across the region,” he said in a statement issued on the sidelines of a hotel industry meeting in the Kenyan capital.
The continent continues to undergo rapid urbanization, with the United Nations forecasting that the world’s 10 fastest-growing cities will all be in Africa by 2035, he said.
“Hilton is seeing strong demand for its brands across the continent and expects to open eight hotels in total across Africa this year,” the company said.
The Mclean, Virginia-based firm has operated in Africa, where it has 41 open hotels and 53 in development, since 1959.
The pipeline of new facilities is part of its Africa growth initiative, launched last year, which involves the investment of $50 million over five years.
It will result in Hilton starting operations in countries where it does not have a presence such as Botswana and Rwanda.
Other big international hotel groups, including Radisson and Kempinski, are estimated to have about a third of the available room capacity on the continent.
The rest are independently-run hotels, offering opportunities to global operators to strike deals with their local counterparts, industry executives say.
Hilton to double hotels in Africa in next five years
Hilton to double hotels in Africa in next five years
- International chains, including Marriott International and Hyatt Hotels, have been increasing their investments in Africa
- The pipeline of new facilities is part of its Africa growth initiative, launched last year
Saudi Arabia reports surge in patent filings amid innovation drive
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia recorded a significant increase in the number of patent applications filed by individuals and national institutions during 2025, reflecting a growing awareness among innovators and national entities of the importance of protecting innovations and maximizing the value of intangible assets.
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property explained that patent applications filed by individuals witnessed substantial growth, rising from 2,007 submissions in 2024 to 3,942 in 2025, representing a growth rate of 96 percent. This indicates a broadening base of innovators and entrepreneurs, and a rising awareness of the importance of registering intellectual property rights, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The authority also indicated that the number of patent applications filed by national institutions increased from 408 in 2024 to 734 in 2025, representing an 80 percent growth. This reflects the increasing interest of national entities in protecting their innovations and transforming them into valuable economic assets.
The entity further noted that this growth contributed to raising the total number of patent applications filed in 2025 to 10,300, compared to 8,029 in 2024. It affirmed its continued efforts to develop the intellectual property system, streamline registration procedures, and support innovation, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia has made notable progress in the 2025 Global Intellectual Property Index, with its score rising by 17.5 percent, placing it among the fastest-improving economies out of the 55 countries evaluated.
According to the 13th edition of the index, published by the US Chamber of Commerce in April, the Kingdom now ranks 40th globally, a reflection of the substantial reforms driven by its Vision 2030 strategy. These reforms aim to enhance intellectual property protection, foster innovation, and support the growth of a knowledge-based economy.
Since 2019, Saudi Arabia’s overall score has increased from 36.6 percent to 53.7 percent in 2025, marking a cumulative improvement of over 40 percent in just six years. This progress stems from a comprehensive transformation of the nation’s IP ecosystem, including the strengthening of legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms.
These developments highlight Saudi Arabia’s growing institutional capacity and ongoing regulatory modernization, led by the SAIP.
