RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is growing by leaps and bounds with key global players entering the scene due to the business-friendly policies of the Kingdom announced as part of its economic diversification efforts.

Hospitality giant Hilton has announced plans to develop two hotels in Jeddah and Abha. According to a press statement, Hampton by Hilton Al Nuzhah in Jeddah will be developed in partnership with Al Manar United for Trading. Scheduled for opening in 2026, the hotel will feature 80 rooms.

The Hilton Garden Inn located in Abha is expected to open in 2027, it said.

The Abha hotel, also developed in partnership with Al Manar United for Trading will have 200 rooms, a lounge, a dining area, and a rooftop, as well as a gym and an outdoor pool.

Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh on Monday, Guy Hutchinson, president of Hilton in the Middle East and Africa region, said that the company plans to more than quadruple its Saudi footprint and open more than 60 hotels, with plans to exceed 100 properties in the coming years. 

“As Saudi Arabia sets its target to increase hotel rooms to 550,000 by 2030, our pipeline of hotels will add more than 17,000 rooms in the coming years and we will introduce new brands to emerging and established destinations in Saudi Arabia,” said Hutchinson. 

He added: “From focused service and branded residences to lifestyle and luxury, two-thirds of our pipeline is currently under construction and we remain committed to diversifying our portfolio to cater to diverse traveler needs.” 

In partnership with master developer Knowledge Economic City, Hilton also signed an agreement for Hilton Residences Madinah Knowledge Economic City adjacent to Hilton Madinah Knowledge Economic City which is currently under construction.

The project in Madinah — set to open in 2026 — is expected to feature 64 two, three, and four-bedroom apartments. 

“We are delighted to be working with master developer Knowledge Economic City to grow our footprint in Madinah. Knowledge Economic City is a very important project, playing a significant role in growing the city’s supply of modern and lifestyle destinations,” said Hutchinson. 

He added: “We currently have Hilton Madinah Knowledge Economic City under construction, and the branded residences will provide guests with various choices of apartments and access to the hotel’s wide range of amenities, further contributing to destination accommodation offering.” 

The press statement also added that Hilton Riyadh Olaya is expected to open its doors to guests in the coming months. 

Carlos Khneisser, vice president, of development, Middle East and Africa at Hilton, said these new agreements will help meet the rising demand from travelers to Saudi Arabia as the Kingdom targets 150 million visitors by 2030. 

“Saudi Arabia’s tourism landscape continues to evolve rapidly, presenting significant growth opportunities for Hilton and our valued partners. Two-thirds of our Saudi pipeline is currently under construction and we are working closely with investors to expand into new destinations with more of our brands,” said Khneisser. 

During the talk, Hutchinson said that Hilton is committed to creating 15,000 jobs in the Kingdom by 2030, with more than half of the recruits being local talents. 

“Our pipeline of hotels will create 15,000 job opportunities, with more than half of these recruits anticipated to be Saudi nationals. Over the past two years, Hilton’s portfolio of hotels across Saudi Arabia have welcomed more than 250 trainees through their doors, of which more than 200 are women,” added Hutchinson. 

RIYADH: Dubai’s property market is set to grow, with the Real Estate Brokers Program securing 25 partnerships with brokerage companies and developers in the private sector. 

According to a press statement, the first phase of the program, launched in mid-March and headed by the Dubai Land Department, also received over 1,000 registrations from Emirati citizens. 

Dubai Real Estate Brokers Program aims to increase the proportion of citizen brokers from 5 percent to 15 percent over the next three years to enhance the participation of young citizens in the Emirate’s developmental initiatives across various key sectors. 

“This reflects the early positive impact of the program, showcasing citizens’ aspirations and eagerness to engage as real estate brokers and acknowledging the pivotal role of Dubai’s real estate sector locally and globally,” said Marwan bin Ghalita, acting director general of Dubai Land Department. 

The initiative also aligns with Dubai Social Agenda 33, which seeks to triple the number of Emiratis working in the private sector.

Ghalita added that the program will help young talents in the nation enhance their productivity, therefore contributing to Dubai’s economic growth. 

“Dubai consistently offers outstanding examples of collaboration and synergy between the private and public sectors,” said Ghalita. 

He added: “With the program’s enrollment exceeding 1,000 citizens and real estate companies continuing to join the strategic alliance within a short period, we are diligently working toward achieving all the ambitious goals of the Dubai Real Estate Brokers Programme. In particular, Emirati real estate brokers will increase from 5 percent to 15 percent over the next three years.” 

The program also encompasses additional initiatives, including Emirati real estate broker licensing, encouraging property developers to allocate a portion of their sales to local agents, and empowering citizens in the property sector. 

Under the partnership with the private sector, citizen participants will receive various support packages to enhance the competitive edge of UAE people and enable them to take up roles in the real estate sector. 

The press statement added that efforts would also be made to allocate 10 percent to 15 percent of the development company’s sales to be marketed by Emirati real estate brokers, therefore contributing to the empowerment of national citizens by offering them employment opportunities in the property market.