Asian hospitality management company Archipelago and Saudi Arabian master developer Knowledge Economic City (KEC) have entered into a strategic joint venture to establish a new hospitality management firm in Madinah.

KEC operates as a publicly listed master developer regulated by the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority, playing a significant role in the urban and economic transformation of Madinah.

Goals of this partnership include creating a specialized hospitality management company and launching a new Saudi hotel brand, alongside commencing the first project in Madinah as part of KEC’s expansion efforts in the Saudi hospitality sector.

This venture underscores KEC’s intention to boost its integrated investment platform through collaborations with global leaders and develop scalable operating models that generate sustainable economic value.

Upcoming: 2,500 Rooms in Madinah

The newly formed company will adhere to unified operational governance intended to manage hotels and hospitality properties within KEC’s locations in Madinah, with opportunities for future expansion throughout Saudi Arabia.

The initial project signifies a crucial milestone in local hospitality, with the construction of a hotel featuring approximately 2,500 rooms, which stands as one of KEC’s largest hospitality developments and one of the most significant new hotel projects entering the Saudi market.

This project aims to serve as the launchpad for a new Saudi hotel brand that reflects the cultural heritage and national identity of Madinah. The brand is designed for scalability, poised for growth through franchise models and management strategies across the Kingdom, thus supporting broader diversification initiatives within Saudi Arabia’s hospitality industry.

Simultaneously, the development will operate under a holistic hotel management model emphasizing operational efficacy, asset optimization, and the empowerment of national talent across all hotel operations, creating both direct and indirect job opportunities in the sector.