Hilton Worldwide, the global hospitality group, has signed a new property to open under the Doubletree brand with prominent local investor Al Hokair Group for its fourth hotel in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

The latest signing is a 153-room conversion property located in Dhahran, which is expected to rebrand and reopen as DoubleTree by Hilton Dhahran at the end of 2013.

Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide Middle East & Africa said: “Our commitment to Saudi Arabia is steadfast as we continue to seek out the best possible opportunities at a range of locations to grow our brands and to serve Saudi Arabia’s many different communities.

“With 21 properties in our Saudi pipeline, we now have the largest development programme in the region which, when realised, will expand our presence to eight different cities and give us a total of almost 10,000 rooms in the Kingdom.”

Strategically located in the Aramco economic and commercial heartland of Dhahran’s business region, DoubleTree by Hilton Dhahran is also conveniently close to key leisure destinations including the city’s two biggest shopping malls and a new, hi-tech museum dedicated to the rich history of the petroleum industry in Saudi Arabia.

John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton said: ““We hope our presence in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province will help meet the growing demand for premium hotels with global expertise and local sensibilities.  This latest signing, the sixth DoubleTree by Hilton hotel planned for the Kingdom brings awareness of the brand to an important and growing city and adds diversity to our expanding Saudi pipeline.”

DoubleTree by Hilton Dhahran will feature a range of quality amenities designed for both the business and leisure guest, including a large function room, four meeting rooms, a business centre and a health club.  Guests can also choose to dine in one of two different restaurants, one to be speciality, as well as a lobby lounge. Accommodation will include a complementary mix of well-appointed rooms and one and two-bedroom suites.

Dhahran, and the wider Eastern Province region, is home to most of Saudi Arabia’s vast oil reserves and the area’s businesses and infrastructure are dominated by the country’s number one global export industry.

The region continues to expand rapidly and many industrial, commercial and residential zones now being planned or constructed is helping to drive economic demand for retail and hospitality services in the city.

Sami Al Hokair, CEO and managing director of Al Hokair Group said: “We place tremendous value on the special business relationship we have with Hilton Worldwide, which started with the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya.

“We are jointly developing a further two properties in the Kingdom and I am delighted our professional and productive relationship will continue with this major announcement to bring an outstanding new brand to the local Eastern Province market.” – TradeArabia News Service