Pan Kingdom Real Estate has strengthened its presence in the religious tourism sector by announcing an agreement with global hotel operator Millennium & Copthorne Hotels to manage two new hotels in Makkah, offering a combined total of more than 1,900 hotel rooms. Operating under the Copthorne brand, the hotels will provide pilgrims and Umrah performers with affordable accommodation that meets the highest international hospitality standards, reinforcing the company’s position as a key real estate developer supporting growth in the Kingdom.
The two hotels are scheduled to open by the end of 2017 in prime locations designed to serve pilgrims and ensure easy access to the Grand Mosque and Mina. The first hotel, located in Al-Ma’abda, Makkah, will feature more than 1,468 rooms and enjoys a strategic location near the Grand Mosque and the Jamarat facility. The second hotel, located in Al-Aziziyah, will comprise more than 426 rooms and is situated on King Khalid Road, close to the commercial district and in proximity to Mina.
Both hotels will offer a range of high-quality facilities, including restaurants, meeting halls, prayer rooms, and fitness centers, catering to the growing demand for affordable yet high-standard hospitality, particularly during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.
Commenting on the agreement, Abdulwahab Saleem Al-Harbi, Chief Executive Officer of Pan Kingdom Real Estate, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership, noting that Millennium & Copthorne’s expansion strategy in the Saudi market—particularly in Makkah and Madinah—aligns with the company’s vision. He added that a project of this scale responds to market demand following extensive development efforts in Makkah, which have received strong government support through integrated infrastructure and services for visitors to the Holy Mosque. He emphasized that the project is also in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to significantly increase the number of pilgrims and Umrah performers annually.
For his part, Ali Hamad Lakhraim Al Zaabi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Middle East & Africa, said:
“We are honored to partner with Pan Kingdom Real Estate, one of the leading real estate developers in the Kingdom. With the number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims expected to reach 17.5 million over the next five years, we are committed to supporting the continued development of the hospitality sector in Makkah.”
Al Zaabi added that Millennium & Copthorne’s established presence enables the group to serve this growing sector by combining global expertise with deep regional knowledge. He noted that the company currently has approximately 12,500 rooms operating or under development in Saudi Arabia and is pursuing a strategic expansion plan across the Kingdom, with new hotels planned in several regions.
Millennium & Copthorne Hotels is a global hospitality group that owns, manages, and operates more than 120 hotels with nearly 40,000 rooms worldwide, across a diverse portfolio of brands. The group currently manages 24 hotels in the Middle East and Africa and is implementing an ambitious growth strategy aimed at expanding its portfolio to 100 hotels by 2020, positioning it among the fastest-growing hotel management companies in the region.
