Radisson Signs Agreement for Its First Hotel in Abha, Featuring 123 Rooms and Suites

Partnership with Ahmed Abdullah Al Salamah Group and Al Fahd Company to develop Radisson Blu Hotel, Abha, with an opening targeted for 2029 as the group expands beyond Saudi Arabia's major cities.

Radisson Hotel Group has signed an agreement to develop Radisson Blu Hotel, Abha, marking the international hospitality group's first entry into the city of Abha in Saudi Arabia's Asir region, in partnership with local development and investment companies.

Announced on November 4, 2026, the agreement covers a new hotel featuring 123 rooms, including 14 suites, with an opening targeted for the third quarter of 2029.

Radisson Hotel Group is collaborating on the project with Ahmed Abdullah Al Salamah Real Estate Development and Investment Group and Al Fahd Trading, Industry and Contracting Company.

Ahmed Abdullah Al Salamah, Chairman of Ahmed Abdullah Al Salamah Group, said the partnership reflects investors' confidence in the tourism potential of the Asir region.

He highlighted the partners' ambition to deliver a hospitality property combining international standards with local identity.

The parties have not disclosed the project's investment value, detailed ownership structure, or construction commencement date.

The planned hotel will be located in the Al Areen district, approximately seven kilometres from Abha International Airport and 13 kilometres from the city centre.

Its location is expected to benefit from surrounding infrastructure developments, including the expansion of Abha International Airport and the widening of the airport road, as well as its proximity to The Point, a mixed-use development.

Designed to serve both leisure and business travellers, the hotel will feature a restaurant, café, and poolside juice bar, alongside meeting and event facilities, a fitness centre, swimming pool, and other recreational amenities.

Elie Milky, Chief Development Officer for the Middle East, Northeast Africa, Greece and Cyprus at Radisson Hotel Group, emphasised that the agreement represents an important step in the group's expansion into Saudi cities beyond its primary markets.

Radisson currently has a portfolio of 50 hotels operating or under development in Saudi Arabia, making the Kingdom one of the group's five largest markets worldwide.

The company aims to expand its Saudi portfolio to 100 hotels operating or under development by 2030.

The agreement introduces another international hotel brand to Abha's pipeline of planned hospitality developments, reflecting growing interest in the city's mountainous landscapes, cultural attractions, and distinctive climate.

The project's significance lies in its potential to broaden accommodation options in Abha, particularly for travellers seeking internationally branded hotel services.

However, its actual contribution to hotel capacity and the local tourism market will only materialise once development is completed and the property begins operations.

The third quarter of 2029 remains the targeted opening date rather than a confirmed operational milestone