Signing between Archipelago and Knowledge Economic City in Madinah. Credit: PRNewsfoto / Archipelago.

Archipelago, which is claimed to be Southeast Asia’s largest privately owned hotel management group, has been chosen to brand and operate hotels in the Islamic World District (IWD) of Knowledge Economic City (KEC) in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

The company is one of five global hotel chains selected to brand and operate hotels and serviced residences in the upcoming IWD area.

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The mixed-use project spans 6.8 million square feet in the holy city of Madinah. The project will cater to the Kingdom’s target of increasing the number of pilgrims, Umrah visitors, and tourists to 30 million a year.

KEC is set to deliver more than 18,000 hospitality rooms, enhancing the city’s role in the travel industry by strengthening its tourism offerings, capacity, and pilgrim experience, which play crucial components of Saudi Vision 2030.

The Aston Hotel & Residences KEC will feature 519 hotel rooms and 130 serviced apartments within the IWD area and is scheduled to open in 2027.

Archipelago president & CEO John Flood said: “We are honoured and proud to be partnering with KEC on bringing Aston Hotels to IWD and to be making our debut in Madinah.

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“KEC is a vital project in terms of diversifying Madinah’s economy and creating a destination that provides a truly holistic experience for travellers, while celebrating the heritage, culture and religious identity of the Holy City. We look forward to working with KEC on this pivotal project and supporting the ongoing transformation of the country’s tourism sector.”

This district is strategically located to maximise its proximity to the Haramain railway station, which connects Madinah to Makkah and Jeddah via high-speed train.

The IWD will offer integrated services for pilgrims and visitors from various cultures within the Islamic world.

Archipelago has more than 55,000 rooms operating and under development in over 200 locations throughout Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, Africa, and Caribbean and Latin America.