Accor Concentrates on Makkah and Madinah as Gulf Tourism Cools

Accor is accelerating growth in Saudi Arabia’s holy cities, as religious tourism acts as a buffer amid the broader pullback in Gulf tourism demand tied to the Iran war disruption. The French hotel company already holds more than 15,000 keys across 15 hotels in Makkah and Madinah, with 8,000 more in the pipeline, in a bid to cater to Vision 2030’s goal of attracting 30 million international Hajj and Umrah pilgrims annually. Accor has 10 brands operating across the holy cities. Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah opens later this year as the brand’s largest property globally at 1,100 rooms. A Fairmont under construction in Madinah comes with branded residences attached. Accor recently announced ibis Makkah Al Maabdah, a new-build 518-key hotel set to open in 2031. Healthy demand supports the case for “continued branded hotel development” across multiple segments, said Maya Ziadeh, Accor’s chief development officer for premium, midscale and economy in t