A new addition in the heart of Makkah
Rotana has announced the signing of Rotana Jabal Omar – Makkah, a 655-key property located steps away from Al Masjid Al Haram. The project, developed in partnership with Jabal Omar Development Company, was formalised during the Future Hospitality Summit in Dubai.
Designed as a multi-tower complex, the hotel will offer a mix of accommodation, dining, and public spaces to meet the growing demand from pilgrims. Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana, stated: “Rotana Jabal Omar, Makkah will create a sanctuary of comfort and connection for pilgrims and travellers alike”.
Saleh Al-Habdan, CEO of Jabal Omar Development Company, added that this partnership supports the Saudi Vision 2030 goals of increasing pilgrimage capacity, enhancing service quality, and enriching visitor experiences.
Supporting Saudi Vision 2030
The new project reinforces Rotana’s long-term growth strategy in Saudi Arabia, where the group already operates 12 hotels across major destinations such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam. Nine additional properties are under development, including the first Edge by Rotana property in Abu Dhabi.
Makkah continues to expand its hospitality infrastructure, with over 8,500 rooms currently under construction. According to Knight Frank, the city’s hotel supply is expected to rise from 63,000 to more than 71,000 rooms by 2027, in line with the Kingdom’s objective of hosting 30 million pilgrims annually by 2030.
A broader regional vision
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Rotana operates 114 properties across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Türkiye. The group’s pipeline includes 36 projects under development, supporting national tourism diversification strategies such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031.
As Philip Barnes noted, “this signing represents a defining moment in Rotana’s journey of growth across the Middle East and a powerful reaffirmation of our commitment to Saudi Arabia.” But the group’s ambitions extend well beyond the Middle East, as Philip Barnes shared in a recent interview.
