Bahrain-based Gulf Hotels Group (GHG) is entering the Saudi Arabia market for the first time, signing an agreement with Burhan Hotels to manage and operate three properties in the Holy City of Makkah, comprising nearly 1,000 rooms.
The agreement covers Hotel Barakat Burhan Makkah, Hotel Barakat Burhan Al Huda and Hotel Barakat Burhan Al Diafa, all located in Makkah, just a short drive or shuttle ride from the Grand Mosque. Under the deal, two of the properties will undergo full renovation and rebranding, with completion and reopening scheduled by the end of 2026. The third property is expected to launch operations by Q3 2027, adding further inventory to support peak pilgrimage demand.
This comes as Saudi’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has begun issuing Hajj visas four months ahead of the pilgrimage season, as the kingdom prepares to welcome more than one million pilgrims to Makkah in 2026.Â
Describing the partnership and market entry as a “strategic milestone” for GHG, Ahmed Janahi, Group CEO, said Makkah offers one of the world’s most “dynamic hospitality markets,” adding that the collaboration “enables Gulf Hotels to leverage its more than five decades of proven operational excellence” while supporting the kingdom’s position as a hub for religious travel. More
By Kate Birch CT
For more information, visit gulfhotelsgroup.com
