Marriott International has signed a landmark agreement with Misr Italia Properties and People & Places to develop nine hospitality projects across Egypt, adding more than 1,500 hotel rooms and branded residences as the country expands its tourism and real estate sectors.
Vatel Bahrain has launched “Explore Hospitality,” a two-week summer programme aimed at introducing young people aged 15 to 18 to career opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sectors.
Amsa Hospitality and Artal Hotels have signed hotel management agreements for three properties in Riyadh, alongside a memorandum of understanding between Hyatt and Artal Hotels to explore bringing the hotels into Hyatt’s global brand portfolio.
Radisson continues to expand in Saudi Arabia, with 50 hotels open and under development across the kingdom, as it targets 100 properties in operation by 2030. The group aims to open 1,000 more rooms in the country during the second half, said a top official.
Saudi-based Blacksand has announced a landmark agreement with Marriott International to develop 10 hotels in the kingdom over the next four years. Featuring over 1,300 rooms, it will be developed under a range of Marriott brands spanning the luxury, select-service and extended-stay segments.
Sharjah’s 102 hotels welcomed 2.1 million guests in 2025, marking a 22% annual increase, according to Cavendish Maxwell. Hotel revenues rose 20% to AED780 million ($212 million), with average stays recorded at two nights.
The number of guests in hotels rated 3-5 stars in Oman reached 696,911 guests by the end of April 2026, while hotel revenues amounted to RO96 million ($250 million).
Hotels in Bahrain are seeing strong Eid Al Adha demand, driven by GCC family travel. Hospitality officials report a return to near-normal activity, with staycation packages and curated experiences focused on family relaxation.
The number of hotel establishments across Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries exceeded 11,200 in 2024, up 1.3 per cent from the previous year, according to data released by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat).
As Eid Al Adha approaches, with the holiday expected to begin on May 27, hotels, resorts and restaurants across the Gulf and popular regional getaways are unveiling a host of special offers to help residents make the most of the long break.
