Taj Group to launch 340-room luxury hotel in Makkah

The Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL) on Tuesday announced its foray into the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia for opening a luxury hotel in collaboration with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Co.

With 340 rooms, the hotel will come up on the King Abdul Aziz Road (KAAR) Project, one of the largest urban rejuvenation ventures in Makkah.

An agreement to this effect was signed between IHCL MD and CEO Puneet Chhatwal and Umm Al Qura's Senior Executive, Hospitality, Hisham Ebeid, said a spokesperson here.

Scheduled to be operational in January 2023, the hotel will have banqueting facilities, multi-cuisine restaurants and will be in close proximity to the commercial centres, retail markets and other landmarks within the KAAR Project.

It will also be within walking distance of the Grand Mosque, Masjid Al-Haram, which is thronged by over six million Haj pilgrims every year, said Chhatwal.

This will be IHCL's fourth hospitality venture in the MENA region with plans to open two more hotels in Dubai over the next 18 months, besides managing the Taj Dubai in the Burj Khalifa downtown area.

The Umm Al Qura for Development & Construction Co (UAQ) is a joint stock company entrusted with the development, construction and operation of the KAAR Project.

--IANS

qn/him/hs