‘Dana Rayhaan by Rotana’ opens in Dammam

Dana Rayhaan by Rotana is situated in a prime location in the heart of the bustling city of Dammam, offering 285 rooms and suites, all with striking modern design.
Short Url
Updated 19 February 2023
Follow

‘Dana Rayhaan by Rotana’ opens in Dammam

Rotana, a hotel management company with more than 100 properties across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye, has announced the opening of its five-star Dana Rayhaan by Rotana in Dammam.

The hotel was inaugurated by Prince Saud bin Nayef, governor of the Eastern Province. At the launch ceremony, Prince Saud said the Eastern Province is home to several touristic sites and is undergoing an exponential growth in the tourism sector, specifically, as well as in its economy, at large. This has been possible due to the care and attention given to the tourism and hospitality sector by the wise leadership of Saudi Arabia, he said.

Nasser Al-Nowais, Rotana chairman, expressed his pride in the new hotel, which he said is an embodiment of Rotana’s long-term vision for the Saudi hospitality sector that is undergoing a period of rapid growth under Saudi Vision 2030.

“Saudi Vision 2030 aims to attract 100 million visitors annually to the Kingdom by 2030, raising the contribution of the tourism sector to the nation’s GDP from 3 percent to 10 percent. As Saudi Arabia diversifies its economic resources and promotes tourism, the opening of this stunning property comes in line with the prosperity of the Saudi hospitality market and the strong growth of the entertainment, conferences and exhibitions segments,” he added.




The hotel was inaugurated by Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef.

Al-Nowais thanked the governor for inaugurating the hotel, and for his continuous support for the region and its tourism.

SHUAA Capital Saudi Arabia, the joint developer of the property, said in a statement: “The new hotel represents the unique and strategic partnership that brings us together with Rotana, which is one of the most pioneering companies in the region’s hospitality market. Dana Rayhaan by Rotana is another significant milestone in our successful partnership after Centro Waha Riyadh and Centro Shaheen Jeddah.”

Guy Hutchinson, Rotana’s president and CEO, said: “The opening of Dana Rayhaan by Rotana, Rotana’s eighth hotel in the Kingdom, comes as part of Rotana’s ambitious strategic plan to expand in Saudi Arabia with six new hotels over the next four years, which will double the number of room keys in the Kingdom to 6,000.”

Dana Rayhaan by Rotana is situated in a prime location in the heart of the bustling city of Dammam, offering 285 rooms and suites, all with striking modern design, exceptional amenities and stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and the city.

With four distinctive dining options, Dana Rayhaan by Rotana offers various culinary experiences including the Rodeo Grill steakhouse, which is equipped with a stunning outdoor terrace. The hotel is home to fully equipped meeting facilities, a grand ballroom, separate recreational facilities for men and women, and an outdoor pool with a spacious terrace restaurant offering healthy meals and refreshing beverages.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
Follow

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.