The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which operates the Taj brand of hotels, has announced its entry into Saudi Arabia, with a 340-key property in the holy city of Makkah.

The new hotel, signed in partnership with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company, will be developed as part of the King Abdul Aziz Road (KAAR) project, one of the largest urban rejuvenation projects in the city of Makkah, and will be located within walking distance of the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram).

The agreement was signed between Hisham Ebeid, senior executive, Hospitality, Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company and Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and chief executive officer at The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL).

Commenting on the signing of this agreement, Chhatwal, said: “We are honoured to partner with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company in bringing the first Taj hotel to Saudi Arabia. This signing is aligned with our strategy of a strong focus on global growth markets and to be present where our guests travel to. We are committed to expanding our presence in the Mena region.”

This hotel will be IHCL’s fourth venture in the Mena region. The company manages Taj Dubai located in the Burj Khalifa downtown area. It will also open another two hotels in Dubai in the next twelve to eighteen months.

The hotel, scheduled to open in January 2023, will have banqueting facilities and several restaurants to serve all tastes.   

Commenting on the partnership, Eng Mohammad Al Ganawi, chief executive officer of Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company, said: “We are delighted to partner with The Indian Hotels Company Limited. We look forward to working with them to bring the iconic Taj brand to the unique development project in Makkah.” - TradeArabia News Service