Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step forward in strengthening its hospitality infrastructure ahead of Ramadan 2026, with the opening of several new hotels across the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The move is part of a broader national strategy to enhance the experience of millions of pilgrims and visitors who travel to the Kingdom each year during the blessed month.
Tourism Minister Leads Field Inspections
Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib recently conducted an extensive field tour spanning Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah. The purpose of the visit was to assess the readiness of tourist and hospitality facilities and to ensure that guests arriving for Ramadan receive world-class service from the moment they set foot in the Kingdom.
During the tour, Al-Khatib inaugurated the Rotana Jabal Omar Hotel in Makkah, a landmark property featuring 655 elegantly designed rooms and suites with views of the Grand Mosque. The hotel adds significant capacity to the city’s accommodation offerings during peak pilgrimage seasons.
Madinah Welcomes Two Major Properties
In Madinah, the Minister oversaw the opening of both the Makarem Tower and the Peninsula Worth Hotel. These properties are designed to serve the growing number of visitors seeking comfortable and convenient stays near the Prophet’s Mosque. With modern amenities and strategic locations, the new hotels reflect the city’s evolving role as a premier spiritual and cultural destination.
The openings are aligned with the Spirit of Ramadan campaign’s Imagine track, which aims to highlight the spiritual and cultural richness of the holy cities while delivering an integrated visitor experience.
A Growing Hospitality Sector Under Vision 2030
The expansion of hotel capacity in Makkah and Madinah is a direct outcome of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which target a substantial increase in the number of Umrah and Hajj visitors in the coming years. The Kingdom has invested heavily in modernizing its tourism infrastructure, from transportation networks to digital visitor services, to accommodate growing demand.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Ajeer platform has also been activated to facilitate temporary hiring within the hospitality sector during Ramadan. This initiative supports local businesses in meeting the seasonal surge in demand while creating employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.
As the holy month continues, Saudi Arabia’s commitment to delivering a seamless and memorable experience for all visitors remains at the forefront of its national development agenda. The new hotel openings in Makkah and Madinah represent yet another milestone in the Kingdom’s journey to becoming the world’s leading destination for spiritual tourism.
