Marriott Signs First Westin Hotel in Saudi Arabia’s Asir Region

Marriott International has signed an agreement with Manarat Al Dheyafah Company for Real Estate to open The Westin Abha, marking the brand’s first entry into Saudi Arabia’s Asir region, a mountain destination known for its elevated setting and cooler climate compared to much of the Kingdom.

Scheduled to open in 2031, the hotel will be located in Jabal Thah Valley, offering access to Abha International Airport and the city centre, and will feature 464 guestrooms designed around Westin’s wellbeing focused brand philosophy. The wider development will also include villas, chalets and extended stay apartments alongside restaurants, meeting spaces and event facilities.

Karim Cheltout, senior vice president of development for the Middle East and Africa at Marriott International, said the signing reinforces the Kingdom’s strategic importance to the company’s long term growth. Mohammed Al Nashwan, chief executive officer of Manarat Al Dheyafah Company for Real Estate, said the project reflects a commitment to supporting the long term growth of the Asir region.

The signing extends Marriott’s Saudi footprint beyond Riyadh, Jeddah and the Red Sea coast, adding a genuinely new region to the Kingdom’s hotel development map.