One of Marriott's projects expected to be built in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Marriott Saudi development company Blacksand and international hotel group Marriott International have announced a strategic agreement to build ten new hotels across Saudi Arabia over the next four years. The project is expected to include more than 1,300 rooms and significantly expand Marriott’s presence in the country.
The agreement includes the development of hotels across a wide range of brands, from luxury brands to business hotels and extended-stay resorts. Among the brands expected to arrive under the program are Moxy, St. Regis, Autograph Collection, Courtyard and many others.
The CEO of Saudi real estate company Blacksand, Omar Al-Abdullatif, defined the agreement as a significant milestone for the company and noted that the collaboration with Marriott combines leading international brands with a shared commitment to creating exceptional hospitality experiences in the Kingdom.
Marriott also sees the move as a significant step, saying that "the agreement reflects the company's desire to diversify its hotel selection in Saudi Arabia and offer a variety of accommodation experiences tailored to the changing needs of tourists."
The hotels are currently in the initial planning and construction stages, with the first opening expected to be in Riyadh. All projects are expected to open gradually by 2030. In addition, upon completion, the hotels are expected to create more than 6,000 full-time jobs, with at least 60% of them to be filled by Saudi nationals