STR reports the Middle East and Africa have extensive hotel pipelines currently underway

STR’s May 2017 Pipeline Report found 159,711 rooms in 581 hotel projects underway in the Middle East and 58,501 rooms in 318 projects underway in Africa.

The total of projects currently underway in the Middle East represents a 3.8-percent increase in rooms underway compared with May 2016. Specifically for the in-construction phase, the Middle East reported 93,984 rooms in 302 hotels. Based on number of rooms, that is a 15.5-percent increase in year-over-year comparisons. 

The total of projects currently underway in Africa is a 3.7 percent increase in rooms underway compared with May 2016. Specifically in the construction phase, Africa reported 30,839 rooms in 171 hotels. Based on number of rooms, this is a 0.3-percent increase in year-over-year comparisons. 

Five countries in the Middle East/Africa region reported more than 4,000 rooms in construction: 
• Saudi Arabia (40,145 rooms in 95 projects)
• United Arab Emirates (32,604 rooms in 116 projects)
• Qatar (9,147 rooms in 37 projects)
• Egypt (4,775 rooms in 14 projects)
• Angola (4,451 rooms in 32 projects) 

Data of the projects currently underway includes projects in the construction, final planning and planning stages, but does not include projects in the unconfirmed stage.

Notable projects currently underway in the Middle East include Dubai Holding's 140 villas and 2,400-room boutique hotel on an exclusive island to the left of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah to be complete by 2020. Expected to open in late 2019, the Sofitel Dubai Wafi near downtown Dubai will have 501 guestrooms.

In Africa, Marriott has begun to develop over 1,100 rooms in Cape Town, Nairobi and Mauritius last October. The group is bringing the Sheraton to Mauritius at the Sheraton Mauritius St. Felix Resort and The Residences at Sheraton Mauritius St. Felix Resort, which will open in early 2020. It will have 152 guestrooms and suites and 37 branded apartments and villas within a mixed-use development. The first Elements Hotel signed in Egypt will open in Cairo in 2019 also as part of a mixed-use development called The Gate Project. As the largest Element Hotel in the Middle East and Africa, it will have 344 rooms.