Holiday Inn Express to open first Saudi property in Riyadh

IHG Hotels and Resorts has signed a management agreement with Al Woroud Real Estate to open the first Holiday Inn Express property in Saudi Arabia.

Holiday Inn Express Riyadh will be a new-build property that is set to open in 2026.

Located in the capital’s central Olaya district, it will lie close to King Fahd Road – Riyadh’s major arterial road connecting the north and south of the capital, and will also be easily accessible from the King Khalid International Airport.

The 200-key property will offer complimentary ‘Express Start Breakfast’ for guests.

Holiday Inn Express Riyadh’s business facilities will include two meeting rooms, while its leisure facilities will feature a swimming pool and gym.

Mohammed Al Balwi, chief executive Officer of Al Woroud Real Estate, said, “We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels and Resorts in bringing a flagship Holiday Inn Express hotel to Saudi Arabia and contribute to the capital’s expanding hospitality landscape. Holiday Inn Express is a well-recognised brand globally and has a huge base of loyal guests who are looking for smart and efficient accommodation.”

Haitham Mattar, managing director of IHG Hotels and Resorts for India, Middle East and Africa said, “The government has been progressively investing in the tourism sector and will bring ever more diverse guest segments to the market, across business, leisure, and spiritual tourism. Through the range of stay experiences offered by our brand portfolio, including Holiday Inn Express, we can provide guest experiences to suit the needs of all visitors coming to the kingdom.”

IHG Hotels and Resorts currently operates 37 hotels across five brands in Saudi Arabia, including: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites, and voco, with 31 hotels in the development pipeline set to open within the next three to five years. Although there are over 3,000 Holiday Inn Express hotels globally, the brand hadn’t yet entered into Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, Holiday Inn opened a new 295-key property in Saudi Arabia – the Holiday Inn and Suites Al-Khobar – in partnership with the Saudi Tourism Development Company.

This article originally appeared on Business Traveller Middle East