Archipelago has been named among five global hotel chains to operate in the Islamic World District (IWD) of Knowledge Economic City (KEC), a 6.8 million square meter mixed-use project in Madinah.
As part of Saudi Vision 2030, KEC is set to deliver over 18,000 hospitality rooms, enhancing Madinah’s tourism and pilgrim experience. Aston Hotel & Residences KEC, featuring 519 hotel rooms and 130 serviced apartments, is set to open in 2027 near the Haramain high-speed railway, connecting Madinah with Makkah and Jeddah. The district will offer diverse cultural experiences through its facilities and services.
Archipelago is the largest privately-owned operator of hotels in Southeast Asia, a key region for pilgrim travel and a region which is widely recognized as a high growth area for outbound tourism generally. Its Aston brand is the leading hotel brand in Indonesia with a history of over 27 years in that market.
“The importance of Indonesia as a tourism source market for Madinah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region cannot be overstated. With over 50% of Indonesia’s population under the age of 30, a growing middle class, consistent improvements in airlift and the rising influence of social media, Indonesia has the greatest capacity for outbound growth and pilgrim travel than any other Muslim nation.”
“Madinah holds a special place in the heart of every Muslim and therefore its religious significance and history, ensures that the potential for heritage, medical, knowledge and religious tourism is unbound. We know that this announcement will create a lot of excitement in Indonesia’s travel sector and that there will be great anticipation amongst our millions of Indonesian members and customers to visit the Aston hotels in Madinah,” said Gerard Byrne, Managing Director, Archipelago.
Commenting further John Flood, President & CEO of Archipelago said “We are honored and proud to be partnering with KEC on bringing Aston Hotels to IWD and to be making our debut in Madinah. KEC is a vital project in terms of diversifying Madinah’s economy and creating a destination that provides a truly holistic experience for travelers, while celebrating the heritage, culture and religious identity of the Holy City. We look forward to working with KEC on this pivotal project and supporting the ongoing transformation of the country’s tourism sector.”
“We are excited to announce our strategic collaboration with Archipelago, marking a significant milestone for Knowledge Economic City (KEC). It is a testament to our shared values of excellence, innovation, and delivering extraordinary guest experiences,” Amin Shaker, Chairman of KEC commented.
