Gulf Hotels Group marks Saudi market entry with three hotels in Makkah 4
Gulf Hotels Group (GHG) has announced its entry into the Saudi Arabian hospitality market through a memorandum of understanding covering three hotels in Makkah with a combined capacity of around 1,000 rooms.
The agreement was signed between Bahrain-based Gulf Hotels Group and Burhan Hotels, under which GHG will serve as operator and day-to-day manager of the properties. The group said it will also engage international hotel brands as part of a broader regional expansion strategy.
The move marks a significant step in GHG’s growth plans and positions the company as a third-party hotel operator in one of the region’s most active hospitality and religious tourism markets.
Under the agreement, GHG will lead renovation and repositioning programmes across all three hotels. The process will involve specialist consultants and discussions with multiple international hotel brands to secure global brand affiliations for the properties.
Ahmed Janahi, Group CEO of Gulf Hotels Group, said the expansion represents a strategic milestone for the company. He noted that entering the Saudi market as a third-party operator allows the group to leverage more than five decades of operational experience while supporting Makkah’s role as a global hub for tourism and religious travel.
Khalid Burhan SaifAddin, Chairman of Burhan Hotels, said the partnership will help enhance hospitality offerings for the millions of pilgrims and visitors who travel to Makkah each year. He added that GHG’s operational expertise and regional experience make it a strong partner for delivering internationally branded hospitality experiences aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.
The project is expected to contribute to the continued development of professionally managed and internationally branded hotel assets in Makkah, supporting service quality for pilgrims, Umrah travellers, and religious tourism groups. The agreement also strengthens Gulf Hotels Group’s regional footprint and lays the groundwork for further Saudi market expansion.
