12 new Rotana hotels to open in the...

Expansion includes long-stay and lifestyle hotels in Abu Dhabi, RAK, Riyadh and Jeddah

UAE homegrown hospitality brand Rotana will open 12 new properties across the UAE and Saudi, as it looks to expand its portfolio by 36 properties across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye.

The expansion, which includes long-stay and lifestyle hotels in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, plus four new openings in Riyadh and Jeddah under the Edge and Rayhaan brands, supports the UAE and Saudi tourism strategies, providing a range of properties in different segments and beyond just the main cities.

Rotana is not just “chasing growth for growth’s sake”, said Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana, but “expanding in the places we know best, places where we have history, deep relationships and operational advantage.”

Within the UAE, Rotana will add three hotels, totalling 737 keys, with two set to open in UAE capital Abu Dhabi and one in Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate.

In Abu Dhabi, Reem Island Arjaan by Rotana will offer 280 serviced hotel apartments in a waterfront setting for long-stay travellers, while Bloom Arjaan by Rotana, in the heart of Saadiyat Island’s cultural district, will deliver 217 rooms and suites alongside wellness facilities.

Adding to the many new hotels opening in fast-growing Ras Al Khaimah, the 240-key Mangrove Rotana (pictured) aims to capitalise on the emirate’s emergence as a nature-driven tourism destination with a blend of wellness, leisure and eco experiences.

Beyond its UAE home, Abu Dhabi-based Rotana is also expanding rapidly across Saudi with three hotels opened in the kingdom in 2024, and plans to operate 20 here by 2027.

Among properties set to open in 2025 and 2026, four hotels under the Edge and Rayhaan brands will bring 440 keys to Riyadh and Jeddah, following an agreement with Memar Development and Investment Company. These will span commercial areas, heritage districts and family-focused hubs.

Yasmina Rayhaan by Rotana, Riyadh, KSA

Outside of the main cities, Rotana is also moving into new territory with upcoming hotels in Saudi’s Al Baha, a mountain destination that combines historic towers, lush forests and cool climates with tourism attractions including ancient caves, a marble village and waterfalls.

Commenting on the twin-country launches, Eddy Tannous, COO at Rotana, said: “The UAE has always been our innovation testbed. But what makes that innovation work is how closely we stay connected to our owners. We’re not just launching new properties, we’re building deep, high-trust partnerships that allow us to test, learn, and scale with precision.”

In support of these openings, Rotana will extend its enhanced loyalty programme, Rotana Discovery, across all new markets. Expected to be fully integrated with the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) by year-end, the platform will connect Rotana guests to a network of more than 30 million members.

Rotana currently has a portfolio of 114 operational and 36 in the pipeline, including the first five-star hotel in Somalia and the first Edge hotel in Egypt. The company is aiming for 30 Edge-branded properties in the Middle East by 2027.

For more information, visit www.rotana.com

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