logo
Hilton Debuts Spark Brand in Makkah During 100-Hotel Saudi Expansion

Hilton Debuts Spark Brand in Makkah During 100-Hotel Saudi Expansion

CairoScene14-05-2025

Spark by Hilton Makkah Aziziyah marks the Spark brand's debut in the Middle East and Africa region.
There's a quiet hospitality shake-up happening in Makkah, and Hilton just lit the match. The brand is dropping its freshest face, Spark by Hilton, right in the middle of the city's Aziziyah district, marking the chain's first Spark hotel in the Middle East and Africa.
Set to open in late 2025, Spark by Hilton Makkah Aziziyah is a 329-room nod to what next-gen spiritual travel could look like: clean lines, smart comforts, and zero fuss. Think separate male and female prayer halls, a communal lounge for a quick recharge, and complimentary breakfast that doesn't feel like an afterthought. It's a short ride to Arafat, steps from a key train link, and just close enough to the Grand Mosque and Mina to keep it meaningful, without getting swallowed up by the chaos.
But don't mistake this as a one-off. This is Hilton laying track. The Spark launch is part of a 100-hotel Saudi play, with over 21,000 rooms and 15,000 jobs - many reserved for Saudi nationals - already in the pipeline. From luxury icons like Waldorf Astoria and Conrad to crowd-pleasers like Hampton and Garden Inn, Hilton's making moves in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Madinah, while also planting flags in next-gen zones like NEOM, Al Ahsa, and Tabuk.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Private Sector Bank Claims in Saudi Arabia Reach SAR 3 Trillion
Private Sector Bank Claims in Saudi Arabia Reach SAR 3 Trillion

CairoScene

time2 days ago

  • CairoScene

Private Sector Bank Claims in Saudi Arabia Reach SAR 3 Trillion

Credit to private businesses and individuals rose 15.2% in April 2025, totalling SAR 3.012 trillion. Private sector banking claims in Saudi Arabia have reached SAR 3.012 trillion as of April 2025, marking a 15.2% year-on-year increase, according to new data from the Saudi Central Bank. The figure reflects total credit issued to non-government entities, including businesses and households, and highlights continued expansion in the Kingdom's financial sector. The rise in private sector lending is supported by strong domestic demand and aligns with ongoing efforts to diversify the economy under Vision 2030. The latest increase also follows a 10% year-on-year growth in time and savings deposits, which reached SAR 949.7 billion by the end of 2024. Credit to the private sector now accounts for the bulk of bank lending activity in Saudi Arabia. The trend has drawn attention from ratings agencies such as Fitch, which forecast that Saudi banks would maintain one of the highest credit growth rates in the region throughout 2025.

London-Based Pinsent Masons Expands With New Riyadh Law Firm
London-Based Pinsent Masons Expands With New Riyadh Law Firm

CairoScene

time3 days ago

  • CairoScene

London-Based Pinsent Masons Expands With New Riyadh Law Firm

The new office marks its fourth location in the Middle East and will focus on transactional legal services. Pinsent Masons has opened an office in Riyadh, marking its fourth location in the Middle East after Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. The new office, which began operations in the beginning of March, is led by Ibrahim Alajaji, a project finance and construction specialist who was previously a partner at Alsabhan & Alajaji. While Pinsent Masons and Alsabhan & Alajaji will now operate independently, the firms will continue their exclusive collaboration, first established in 2018. Alsabhan & Alajaji will focus on local court matters and legislative drafting under the leadership of Naif Alsabhan, while Pinsent Masons Saudi Arabia will focus on transactional legal services. The Riyadh office includes partners Rena Scott, who joined last year from Orrick to lead the firm's Saudi construction advisory and disputes practice, and Tim Armsby, who heads the firm's Middle East finance and projects division. Both Armsby and Alajaji have advised Saudi Arabia's National Centre for Privatisation, which oversees public-private partnerships and government entity privatisations. The new structure is anticipated to allow Pinsent Masons' to further serve clients in the Saudi market and offer opportunities for young Saudi lawyers to gain experience in high-value transactions and complex legal matters. The move follows Saudi Arabia's 2023 legal market reforms, which allow foreign firms to establish their own operations in the Kingdom. These changes have prompted several international law firms to enter or expand their presence in Saudi Arabia, including Clifford Chance, Latham & Watkins, and Addleshaw Goddard.

Green Roofs to Riyadh's Deepest Metro: Schaduf's Journey into Saudi
Green Roofs to Riyadh's Deepest Metro: Schaduf's Journey into Saudi

CairoScene

time3 days ago

  • CairoScene

Green Roofs to Riyadh's Deepest Metro: Schaduf's Journey into Saudi

Inside the landscape firm's most complex project to date: a 36-metre-deep green wall at Qasr Al Hukm metro station. When Sherif Hosni, Co-Founder of Cairo-based landscape firm Schaduf, talks about Qasr Al Hukm, there's a noticeable pause before he calls it what it is: the flagship. 'It's the biggest project we've completed,' he tells SceneHome. Schaduf began with a shared passion for sustainability—specifically, green roofs—and grew from there. But over time, one thing became clear: Saudi was the biggest market. It wasn't easy. Establishing a business presence in the Kingdom came with its own set of hurdles. But a strategic partnership in 2018 helped unlock the opportunity, and by 2022, Schaduf had opened a formal office in Saudi Arabia—just in time to take on its largest challenge yet. Qasr Al Hukm is one of Riyadh's main metro stations, part of the city's broader infrastructure transformation. At its core is a green wall designed and executed entirely by Schaduf—spanning 36 metres underground. Unlike earlier projects where Schaduf might have handed over execution to a local partner, this time they did it all themselves—from design to installation. They now oversee maintenance and operations, too. Today, Qasr Al Hukm represents more than just a completed project. It's proof of capability. And it marks the beginning of Schaduf's regional expansion.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store