IHG to debut Kimpton hotel in Riyadh in June 2024 

This signing is in line with IHG’s commitment to bring more luxury and lifestyle brands from its global portfolio to Saudi Arabia (Supplied)
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Updated 05 May 2023
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IHG to debut Kimpton hotel in Riyadh in June 2024 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is widening its hospitality mix by introducing the luxury boutique hotel brand Kimpton to Riyadh in June 2024. 

The confirmation came after the King Abdullah Financial District, the Public Investment Fund-owned project management company, signed a management agreement with IHG Hotels and Resorts on Thursday to launch a 200-room hotel in the capital. 

The debut comes as part of IHG’s strategy to cater to a growing number of business travelers and meet the tourism objectives of the Vision 2030 blueprint. 

The Kimpton Riyadh will be built in the heart of KAFD. It will offer five food and beverage options, including an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a lobby lounge, a lobby living room cafe and a pool bar.  

Kimpton Riyadh will also host an outdoor amphitheater terrace, health club and swimming pool. 

“We have identified a trend toward blended travel, with those traveling for work or business also seeking a lifestyle element to their stay,” said Haitham Mattar, managing director, IHG Hotels & Resorts for India, the Middle East and Africa. 

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants operates over 60 hotels and 75 restaurants, bars and lounges across the US, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Greater China.  

“Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries worldwide that saw a rise in tourism investment and expenditure during the COVID-19 pandemic, with domestic tourism increasing by 33.6 percent and over SR80 billion ($21.33 billion) spent by tourists,” said Gautam Sashittal, CEO at KAFD Development and Management Co. 

“As we look to make KAFD an essential part of the business landscape of the Kingdom, Kimpton Riyadh at KAFD will enable us to welcome diverse visitors for work, leisure or both,” he added. 

Through this new property, IHG will focus on corporate executives and affluent Saudi families looking for a luxury lifestyle.  

IHG currently operates 37 hotels across five brands in Saudi Arabia, including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and voco, with 31 hotels in the development pipeline set to open within the next three to five years. 


New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

Updated 28 January 2026
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New Murabba seeks contractors for Mukaab Towers fit-outs: MEED

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has issued a request for information to gauge the market for modular and offsite fit-out solutions for its flagship Mukaab development, MEED reported on Wednesday.

The RFI was released on Jan. 26, with submissions due by Feb. 11. NMDC has also scheduled a market engagement meeting during the first week of February to discuss potential solutions with prospective contractors.

Sources close to the project told MEED that NMDC is “seeking experienced suppliers and contractors to advise on the feasibility, constraints, and execution strategy for using non-load-bearing modular systems for the four corner towers framing the Mukaab structure.” The feedback gathered from these discussions will be incorporated into later design and procurement decisions.

The four towers — two residential (North and South) and two mixed-use (East and West) — are integral to the Mukaab’s architectural layout. Each tower is expected to rise approximately 375 meters and span over 80 stories. Key modular elements under consideration include bathroom pods, kitchen pods, dressing room modules, panelized steel partition systems, and other offsite-manufactured fit-out solutions.

Early works on the Mukaab were completed last year, with NMDC preparing to award the estimated $1 billion contract for the main raft works. This was highlighted in a presentation by NMDC’s chief project delivery officer on Sept. 9, 2025, during the Future Projects Forum in Riyadh.

Earlier this month, US-based Parsons Corp. was awarded a contract by NMDC to provide design and construction technical support. Parsons will act as the lead design consultant for infrastructure, delivering services covering public buildings, infrastructure, landscaping, and the public realm at New Murabba. The firm will also support the development of the project’s downtown experience, which spans 14 million sq. meters of residential, workplace, and entertainment space.

The Parsons contract follows NMDC’s October 2025 agreements with three other US-based engineering firms for design work across the development. New York-headquartered Kohn Pedersen Fox was appointed to lead early design for the first residential community, while Aecom and Jacobs were selected as lead design consultants for the Mukaab district.

In August 2025, NMDC signed a memorandum of understanding with Falcons Creative Group, another US-based firm, to develop the creative vision and immersive experiences for the Mukaab project. Meanwhile, Beijing-based China Harbour Engineering Co. completed the excavation works for the Mukaab, and UAE-headquartered HSSG Foundation Contracting executed the foundation works.