In brief
- Signing of the future 850-room Novotel Makkah, with its official opening scheduled for 2030.
- Extension of the partnership with Al Qimmah Hospitality, bringing the joint portfolio to more than 4,000 keys across 5 hotels.
- Direct alignment of the project with the strategic and infrastructure objectives of the national Saudi Vision 2030 plan.
- Support for local employment through the Tamayyaz by Accor programme, aiming to train 3,000 Saudi professionals.
The French hotel giant is consolidating its strategic expansion with the growth of Accor in Saudi Arabia, following the extension on 24 August 2026 of its alliance with Al Qimmah Hospitality to exceed 4,000 rooms thanks to the signing of the future Novotel Makkah. Officially announced in Paris during the French-Saudi strategic partnership council, this major agreement provides for the development of a portfolio of over 4,000 keys in the Kingdom. This major project forms part of a drive to structure accommodation capacity to meet the growing influx of religious and business tourism.
This announcement marks a major milestone in French-Saudi economic relations, illustrating the strength of bilateral tourism investment. The French-Saudi strategic partnership council serves as a high-level springboard for such intercontinental cooperation. By choosing Paris to formalise this project, Accor and Al Qimmah Hospitality highlight the international reach of their collaboration. This long-term alliance aims to introduce global operational standards into a dynamic, rapidly restructuring market.
Novotel Makkah, a new 850-key giant
The upcoming property under the Novotel brand will feature a major capacity of 850 rooms, making it one of the flagship projects in Accor’s regional portfolio. The Novotel brand is internationally recognised for its positioning focused on modernity, comfort and welcoming hospitality, qualities particularly suited to the expectations of a diverse clientele of pilgrims and business travellers.
Designing an 850-key hotel requires considerable architectural and operational expertise. The infrastructure is conceived to handle large visitor flows while maintaining smooth, high-quality service during peak periods, which are frequent in the holy cities. The focus will be on versatile, modular living spaces, providing guests with reliable, functional accommodation that is seamlessly integrated into local dynamics.
Hospitality dynamics in the holy cities
The accommodation market in Makkah and Madinah is characterised by continuous structural demand and extraordinary peak visitor numbers linked to the spiritual calendar. Welcoming millions of pilgrims each year imposes operational demands on hotel infrastructure that are unique in the world, requiring rigorous management of logistics, security and services.
The increased presence of global hotel operators helps standardise service offerings and bring the expertise required to manage these massive flows. This shift towards professionalisation in the sector meets the rising quality expectations of international visitors. International brands, through their brand awareness, provide reassuring benchmarks of comfort and service quality, thereby consolidating the destination’s reputation on the global stage.
A major new address on the 2030 horizon
Scheduled to open its doors by 2030, the upcoming Novotel-branded property promises to be a cornerstone of hospitality in the holy city. With an 850-room capacity for the future Novotel, the establishment will significantly reinforce the hotel group’s footprint in major religious tourism destinations, addressing growing demand from pilgrims for high-quality stays across various price points. This project consolidates Accor’s status as the leading international hotel operator in the region, while extending midscale comfort standards into the heart of the holy cities.
Achieving the 2030 targets reflects the meticulous planning required to successfully deliver major construction projects of this scale. By working closely with Al Qimmah Hospitality, the French group ensures a rollout rooted in local market realities while maintaining brand identity. This future location thus positions itself as a modern answer to the demands of a rapidly transforming market.
A global partnership passing the 4,000-room milestone
This new signing is not an isolated event, but a direct continuation of the master development agreement signed in 2025 between the two partners. The joint portfolio now extends across multiple strategic properties representing over 4,000 keys located in key hubs across the country: Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. Across the Mercure Makkah Shesha, ibis Styles Makkah Mesfalah, Mövenpick Madinah, Swissôtel Jeddah and now Novotel Makkah brands, the alliance spans a broad spectrum of hotel segments, from economy to premium, catering to all guest profiles.
This multi-brand strategy is designed to cater to the diverse visitor profiles travelling through the region. Whether for budget stays or high-end services, the deployed brands allow for a complementary offering. The geographical distribution between the major gateway of Jeddah and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah creates a unified, cohesive accommodation ecosystem dedicated to the guest experience.
Accor’s expansion in Saudi Arabia by 2030
Accor’s ongoing expansion reflects a lasting strategic commitment to the Saudi market. By establishing its key brands in the country’s most dynamic economic and cultural hubs, the group is actively responding to the sector’s restructuring. This footprint is accompanied by the digitisation of services and the enhancement of global loyalty programmes, aimed at building loyalty among domestic and international business and leisure guests seeking modern standards.
A project in line with Saudi Vision 2030 ambitions
Accor’s expansion aligns seamlessly with the macroeconomic objectives set by the Saudi authorities. By strategically expanding its hotel infrastructure, the group directly contributes to the diversification ambitions of the Saudi economy driven by the Saudi Vision 2030 plan. This state agenda aims to dramatically increase capacity for pilgrims and international tourists, requiring a rapid upgrade in national accommodation offerings and meticulous structuring of the regional tourism landscape.
To support these ambitions, modernising public infrastructure is essential, particularly through transport network developments and urban regeneration in historic centres. The involvement of major global operators like Accor adds clear value to this transition, enhancing the country’s international profile while building a sustainable tourism model aligned with government objectives.
Tamayyaz, the human catalyst to train local talent
Developing local skills represents a key challenge for the future of Saudi hospitality. Through the Tamayyaz by Accor initiative, the group offers comprehensive training pathways designed to prepare future national hospitality leaders. This scheme focuses on integrating young talent across all areas of operations, from daily management to strategic leadership, driving long-term skill enhancement within the local workforce.
Training local talent at the heart of the partnership
Beyond building physical infrastructure, the alliance strategy places paramount importance on human capital and job nationalisation. Leveraging the national Tamayyaz by Accor training programme, rolled out in close collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the hotel group is actively engaged in vocational education. The initiative has set a goal to train and recruit over 3,000 Saudi nationals by 2030, thereby shaping the next generation of hospitality executives within the Kingdom.
This institutional collaboration strengthens the programme’s relevance by aligning it directly with actual industry needs. By offering rewarding career prospects, the project contributes to the emergence of a modern, attractive service economy for younger Saudi generations. The involvement of Accor teams ensures world-class skills transfer, guaranteeing long-term excellence in hospitality across future establishments.
