Kempinski to open new flagship hotel in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Kempinski Hotels is set to develop a new luxury hotel in Makkah (also known as Mecca), Saudi Arabia. The Swiss company signed a deal with Saudi developer Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Co. last week at the Emerald Palace Kempinski Dubai to open the Kempinski Hotel Makkah in 2023. 

When the hotel opens, it will be the flagship structure within the new boulevard in the King Abdul Aziz Road megaproject. The development, a planned “urban lifestyle hub,” is being developed to serve the influx of visitors the city receives each year for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. The King Abdul Aziz Road project is directly linked with the Haramain High-Speed Railway station that links Makkah to Jeddah and Madina (also known as Medina).  

The property will have 380 guestrooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant serving Levantine cuisine, a coffee lounge in the sky lobby, a ballroom and conference rooms for business functions.

The hotel will be a sister property to the upcoming Kempinski in Madina, scheduled to open in 2022. “A presence in the two cities will allow us to boost exponentially the performance of both hotels while merging very well with the country’s famous vision for 2030,” Martin R. Smura, CEO of Kempinski Hotels and chairman of the Kempinski management board, said in a statement. 

“What counted most for us was the expertise of managing hotels and residences from a European perspective integrated with local and cultural refinements and considerations,” added Yasser AbuAteek, managing director/CEO of Umm Al Qura. 

Kempinski Hotel Makkah
Kempinski Hotel Makkah. Photo credit: Kempinski Hotels