New Raffles, MGallery and Sofitel announced for Riyadh

Hospitality group Accor has confirmed three new luxury properties will open in Riyadh by 2027.

It has partnered with Saudi-based Erth Real Estate Company to open a 230-key Raffles hotel, a 250-key Sofitel Serviced Residence, and a 60-villa MGallery resort.

Erth Real Estate Company is the owner and developer of the SAR4.2 billion mixed-use project at Al Yasmin District in Riyadh, and has signed with Accor for hotel management services from among the brands within its portfolio within the two towers of this development.

Raffles Riyadh and Sofitel Extended Stay at Al Yasmin District, both located at the intersection of King Fahad Road with King Salman Road and Al Olaya Street, will reside within the towers.

The 34-storey and 42-storey towers are less than a 20-minute drive to King Khalid International Airport and will have a clear view of landmarks including KAFD, New Murabba, Avenues Mall, SAB Tower and Tamkeen Tower.

MGallery Resort Riyadh meanwhile will be built in the Al Waseel district, 20 minutes away from Riyadh’s city center. Situated in a wadi surrounded by date farms, the property will feature 60 low-rise villas.

The lead architect for Erth’s new luxury hotels in Riyadh is Foster and Partners. Additional consultants will provide expertise on spa, art, technology, and food and beverage concepts.

“As part of Accor’s ultra-luxury division, Raffles is honored to soon open a second destination in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Riyadh,” said Omer Acar, CEO Raffles and Orient Express. “As a brand that is highly selective of the destinations where we choose to develop, we are confident that vibrance and growth surrounding the city of Riyadh is the perfect location to offer our guests the true Raffles experience.”

Maud Bailly, CEO Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems, added, “On behalf of both the Sofitel and MGallery brands, we are delighted to contribute to a diverse community of luxury hospitality choices for business and leisure visitors, particularly those who wish to settle in and stay a little longer to enjoy the dynamic energy of the cosmopolitan city of Riyadh. As an ambassador of French culture around the world, Sofitel will bring the art-de-vivre that has been so successful at our two other Sofitel destinations in the kingdom.”

Accor has been present in Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years and has contributed to the hospitality sector’s development in Makkah, counting over 9,000 rooms with direct access to the Haram.

Earlier this month, Accor announced plans to open three properties in an upcoming project in Saudi Arabia by Rua Al Madinah Holding Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Located in Madinah in Saudi Arabia, the new openings include a 142-key Fairmont hotel with a 120 Fairmont branded residences component to it, in addition to a 466-key Swissôtel and a 328-key Novotel property.

Within Saudi Arabia, Accor currently operates 42 properties comprising of more than 16,000 rooms and has a development pipeline of 34 properties which will add approximately 7,000 rooms to the group’s portfolio by 2027.

Accor properties expected to open in Saudi this year include Raffles Jeddah, Fairmont Ramla Serviced Residences Riyadh, Sofitel Riyadh, Movenpick Waad Al Shamal-Turaif and Novotel Makkah Thakher City Residences.

This article originally appeared on Business Traveller Middle East