IHCL launches first Taj property in Makkah

NEW DELHI: The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) announced on Tuesday that it has launched its first Taj property in Saudi Arabia in the city of Makkah. IHCL has partnered with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company in the King Abdul Aziz Road (KAAR) project, an urban rejuvenation project in the city of Makkah.
Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and CEO at The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) said, “We are honoured to partner with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company in bringing the first Taj hotel to Saudi Arabia. This signing is aligned to our strategy of a strong focus on global growth markets and to be present where our guests travel to. We are committed to expanding our presence in the MENA region.”

This hotel will be IHCL’s fourth venture in the MENA region. The company manages Taj Dubai located in the Burj Khalifa downtown area. It will also open another two hotels in Dubai in the next twelve to eighteen months.

The proposed hotel is situated within walking distance of the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram), the attraction for over 6 million pilgrims who visit the city each year. It will also be in close proximity to commercial offices, retail stores and restaurants within the KAAR project, IHCL said. The hotel, scheduled to open in January 2023, will have approximately 340 keys.

Mohammad Al Ganawi, CEO of Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company said, “We are delighted to partner with The Indian Hotels Company Limited. We look forward to working with them to bring the iconic Taj brand to the unique development project in Makkah.”