PIF’s Adeera to operate hotel portfolio across Qiddiya City

Qiddiya City is expected to employ over 200,000 people and attract more than 40 million visitors annually. Supplied
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Updated 04 August 2025
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PIF’s Adeera to operate hotel portfolio across Qiddiya City

RIYADH: Saudi-grown hotel brands will be introduced across Qiddiya City under a new strategic partnership between its developer and Adeera, the hospitality group backed by the Public Investment Fund. 

The agreement with Qiddiya Investment Co. — also a PIF company — marks a new milestone for Adeera, which was launched in December 2024 to develop and manage a portfolio of homegrown hotel brands. 

As part of the deal, Adeera will operate a range of hotels at the Qiddiya giga-project, including Alia, a Saudi luxury brand; Sama, a five-star lifestyle offering; and Noor, a mid-market concept, according to a press release. 

This move aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal of making tourism and hospitality a key pillar of economic diversification. 

It also supports PIF’s efforts to build a comprehensive tourism infrastructure in Qiddiya City, which aims to attract millions of global visitors with world-class destinations such as Six Flags Qiddiya and Aquarabia, the region’s largest water park.  

Abdullah Al-Dawood, managing director of Qiddiya Investment Co., said: “This partnership reflects Qiddiya’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences rooted in excellence, quality, and Saudi identity.” 

He added: “Adeera brings the depth, readiness, and Saudi-rooted identity needed to bring our hospitality vision to life. We are leveraging a national champion purpose-built to deliver authentic Saudi hospitality at scale.” 

The deal aims to bring a fresh approach to hotel management and operations, with a focus on reflecting Saudi identity in hospitality, in line with Vision 2030’s tourism and diversification goals. 

“This partnership sets the tone for what Adeera was built to do — to power Saudi Arabia’s ambitious hospitality pipeline with living, breathing brands that embody the hospitable Saudi culture. We are not just managing hotels; we are showcasing what Saudi hospitality means on the world stage,” said Stefan Leser, CEO of Adeera. 

Qiddiya City is a new destination being developed from the ground up around entertainment, sports, and culture. Located in the Tuwaiq Mountains about 40 minutes from Riyadh, it aims to offer a wide range of attractions and experiences for residents and visitors alike. 

Expected to employ over 200,000 people and attract more than 40 million visitors annually, the city is positioned to play a significant role in Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth and economic development.


Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

Updated 08 December 2025
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Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

RIYADH: Energy giants Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and Samref have signed a venture framework agreement to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and expand it into an integrated petrochemical complex.

As a part of the deal, the companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, according to a joint press statement.

The agreement will also see the parties explore opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.

Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products, including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulfur.

“This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy,” said Aramco Downstream President, Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

He added that the deal will help position Samref as a key driver of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector’s growth.

The press statement further said that companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness, and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in Saudi Arabia.

The firms added that these plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals, and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

“We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.