Accor and Al Qimmah Hospitality to Open 850-Key Novotel in Makkah
Global hospitality group Accor and Al Qimmah Hospitality, a subsidiary of BinDawood Investment Company, have expanded their strategic partnership in Saudi Arabia with the signing of a new 850-key Novotel hotel in Makkah. The latest agreement forms part of a wider master development partnership between the two companies, which now covers a portfolio of more than 4,000 hotel keys across five properties in Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah. The partnership spans Accor’s premium, midscale, and economy hospitality brands.
The signing was announced in Paris during the French-Saudi Investment Roundtable, building on the master development agreement established by Accor and Al Qimmah Hospitality in 2025. Under the expanded partnership, Al Qimmah Hospitality and Accor are developing a portfolio comprising Mercure Makkah Shesha, ibis Styles Makkah Mesfalah, Mövenpick Madinah, Swissôtel Jeddah, and the newly signed Novotel Makkah. The new Novotel Makkah is scheduled to open in 2030 and will add 850 keys to the Holy City’s growing hospitality infrastructure.
The project is intended to expand the availability of quality and accessible accommodation for pilgrims and visitors while supporting Saudi Arabia’s continued growth in religious tourism. The wider development programme will deliver more than 4,000 keys across the Kingdom, supporting demand from religious, leisure, and business travellers. The portfolio covers multiple hospitality segments and price points, contributing to the expansion of Saudi Arabia’s tourism accommodation capacity.
In addition to hotel development, the partnership will support employment and talent development in the Kingdom. Accor said the expansion aligns with its Tamayyaz by Accor national talent programme, developed in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, which aims to develop and hire more than 3,000 Saudi nationals by 2030. Duncan O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer for Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific at Accor, said the expansion reflects the companies’ confidence in the long-term growth potential of Saudi Arabia’s hospitality market.
Dr. Abdulrazzaq Bindawood, Chairman, said reaching more than 4,000 rooms across five hotels represents an important milestone in the partnership and reinforces the company’s long-term investment in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector. The expanded portfolio supports the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to strengthen tourism infrastructure, increase visitor capacity, and encourage private-sector investment in the Kingdom’s rapidly growing tourism and hospitality industry.
For a developer: The expansion of Accor and Al Qimmah Hospitality's partnership in Saudi Arabia highlights the significant opportunities for growth in the hospitality sector, particularly in religious tourism. With the Kingdom's focus on increasing visitor capacity and enhancing tourism infrastructure, developers and investors can expect a favorable environment for new projects and investments. The collaboration also underscores the importance of aligning with national talent development programs to support local employment and skill enhancement.