 area of Knowledge Economic City (KEC). As one of Saudi Arabia's leading Master Developers, KEC is delivering over 18,000 hospitality rooms to enhance Madinah’s tourism and pilgrim experience, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.){kind=link}
At a ceremony in Madinah, Archipelago was named one of five global hotel chains selected to brand and operate hotels and serviced residences in the upcoming Islamic World District (IWD) area of Knowledge Economic City (KEC). As one of Saudi Arabia’s leading Master Developers, KEC is delivering over 18,000 hospitality rooms to enhance Madinah’s tourism and pilgrim experience, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
The Aston Hotel & Residences KEC, opening in 2027, will include 519 hotel rooms and 130 serviced apartments, leveraging its proximity to the Haramain railway station to offer integrated services reflecting the diverse cultures of the Islamic world. These facilities will include hotels, shops, restaurants, entertainment outlets, medical clinics, and other support services.
Archipelago is the largest privately owned operator of hotels in Southeast Asia, a key region for pilgrim travel and a region which is widely recognized as a high growth area for outbound tourism generally. Its Aston brand is the leading hotel brand in Indonesia with a history of over 27 years in that market.
“The importance of Indonesia as a tourism source market for Madinah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region cannot be overstated. With over 50% of Indonesia’s population under the age of 30, a growing middle class, consistent improvements in airlift and the rising influence of social media, Indonesia has the greatest capacity for outbound growth and pilgrim travel than any other Muslim nation. 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.
Commenting further John Flood, President & CEO of Archipelago said “We are honored and proud to be partnering with KEC on bringing Aston Hotels to IWD and to be making our debut in Madinah. KEC is a vital project in terms of diversifying Madinah’s economy and creating a destination that provides a truly holistic experience for travellers, while celebrating the heritage, culture and religious identity of the Holy City. We look forward to working with KEC on this pivotal project and supporting the ongoing transformation of the country’s tourism sector”.
“We are excited to announce our strategic collaboration with Archipelago, marking a significant milestone for Knowledge Economic City (KEC). It is a testament to our shared values of excellence, innovation, and delivering extraordinary guest experiences,” Amin Shaker, Chairman of KEC commented. “With the incredible and continuous support from HH Prince Salman bin Sultan, this relationship with Archipelago allows us to set new hospitality standards in Madinah and will contribute to the Kingdom’s development goals in line with Vision 2030.”
Mohammad Al Mubarak, Chief Executive Officer of KEC, added, “It gives me great pleasure to share our collaboration with Archipelago, bringing new Aston branded hotels, Aston Hotel & Residences KEC, to the city. The introduction of these properties is a pivotal step forward in our mission to grow technology and knowledge-driven developments in Madinah and deliver unparalleled hospitality experiences to residents and visitors across all sectors.”
For information on the Archipelago, please visit www.archipelagohotels.com
For information on Knowledge Economic city, please visit www.madinahkec.com
