Madinah in Saudi Arabia is soon set to welcome several new hotels by international hotel companies. These hotels will be located within the upcoming Islamic World District area of Knowledge Economic City (KEC) in Madinah.
Spanning 6.8 million square meters, KEC is being planned as a world-class destination with hospitality, residential, retail and commercial components as well as sports and recreational facilities, education and healthcare services. Located in the southeastern part of KEC, Islamic World District sits adjacent to the Haramain High-Speed Rail Station in Madinah. Spanning 1 million square meters, Islamic World District is designed to align with two key programs of Saudi Vision 2030 — the Pilgrim Experience Program and the Quality of Life Program. The area will consist of a museum, cultural center and plaza showcasing the Islamic cultures from across the world.
Marriott International will be opening three hotels in KEC and feature more than 1,200 rooms across three brands — Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton and Residence Inn by Marriott.
Courtyard by Marriott Knowledge Economic City will consist of 456 rooms, two dining venues, a fitness center and meeting spaces, while Four Points by Sheraton Knowledge Economic City will offer 558 rooms, several F&B venues, a fitness center and meetings and events space. Plans for Residence Inn by Marriott Knowledge Economic City include 250 studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, all featuring a full kitchen and large bathrooms, along with a grab-and-go market and a fitness center.
These three openings are art of Marriott’s commitment to contribute to the growth of tourism in Saudi Arabia, where the hospitality giant currently has more than 40 properties and over 10,000 rooms under 13 brands.
“KEC is a pivotal project that will further help diversify Madinah’s economy and create a destination that provides a variety of experiences for travelers and celebrates the cultural and religious identity of the Holy City,” said Jerome Briet, chief development officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International.
The three hotels under Marriott will also be joined by an Aston Hotel & Residences. Archipelago, the Southeast Asian hotel management company announced that it will be opening Aston Hotel & Residences KEC in KEC’s Islamic World District. Scheduled to open in 2027, the property will offer 519 hotel rooms and 130 serviced residences.
One of Southeast Asia’s largest privately owned hotel management groups, Archipelago has more than 55,000 rooms operating and under development across over 200 locations in Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Africa, and Caribbean and Latin America. Archipelago’s Aston brand is one of the leading brands in Indonesia, with a history of more than 27 years in the market.
In the GCC, Archipelago is a long-term strategic partner of Maison Privee, a vacation rental management company in the region. Archipelago is also opening its first two hotels in Makkah, Saudi Arabia in 2026.
“Madinah holds a special place in the heart of every Muslim and, therefore, its religious significance and history ensures that the potential for heritage, medical, knowledge and religious tourism is unbound. We know that this announcement will create a lot of excitement in Indonesia’s travel sector and that there will be great anticipation amongst our millions of Indonesian members and customers to visit the Aston hotels in Madinah,” said Gerard Byrne, managing director, Archipelago.