Rua Al Madinah Project to Transform Madinah into Modern Islamic, Cultural Destination

(MENAFN) Saudi Arabia is set to transform the city of Madinah into a modern Islamic and cultural destination through the Rua Al Madinah project. The real estate company owned by the Public Investment Fund, Rua Al Madinah Holding Co., has partnered with Accord Group to launch three properties in the city. The project will include a 140-room Fairmont Hotel, 120 Fairmont branded residences, 466-room Swissotel, and 328-room Novotel.

Accor, the hospitality chain, has been present in the Kingdom for over 20 years, counting over 9,000 rooms with direct access to the Haram. Duncan O'Rourke, CEO of the Middle East, Africa, Turkey, and Asia-Pacific region at Accor, expressed pride in signing the first Swissotel property and strengthening the Novotel offering in Madinah. The goal of the signings is to support the diverse offering at the Rua Al Madinah master development.

The Rua Al Madinah master plan covers over 1.5 million sq. meters of space with direct views of Al Masjid al Nabawi, known as the Prophet's Mosque. The plan will supply over 47,000 hotel rooms by 2030, accommodating 63 percent of open spaces and 37 percent of built area. Ahmed bin Madhi, chief investment officer at Rua Al Madinah Holding Co, spoke at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh and stated that the Rua al Madinah project is building a city of hotels and supporting retail and other asset classes.

The project is adopting smart and sustainable solutions, including a district cooling system, greywater treatment and recycling infrastructure, smart city technology, an energy-saving and interactive lighting platform, and an intelligent network for guiding panels. Mohammed Al-Khalili, chairman of Rua Al Madinah Holding Co, told Arab News that the total value of the project is almost SR140 billion (USD37 billion), and upon completion, it will add 93,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The Rua Al Madinah project is an important initiative by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) as it raises the readiness of the eastern region in Madinah to accommodate more visitors in a distinguished urban environment while highlighting its religious and cultural characteristics. The project will transform Madinah into a modern Islamic and cultural destination, offering visitors a unique experience and contributing significantly to the region's economic growth.

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