Each year, more than 15 million Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. It makes sense that the city will be home to what is planned to be the largest hotel in the world.
According to Architectural Digest, the Abraj Kudai hotel is designed by consulting firm Dar Al-Handasah. With 10,000 rooms, the hotel will far surpass the current title of world’s largest hotel by room count—the 6,198-room MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
A budget of $3.5 billion is expected to complete the hotel in the Manafia area of Mecca’s central zone, less than two miles from the Masjid al-Haram, Mecca’s holy mosque.
In addition to guest rooms, the 645,830-sf, 12-tower complex will include a shopping center, restaurants, helipads, and a convention center.
Rapid development in Mecca has raised concerns about historical preservation. For example, an Ottoman citadel from the 18th century was demolished to make room for the behemoth Abraj Al Bait Towers, a government-owned megatall building complex.
The Abraj Kudai is scheduled to open in 2017.
Related Stories
Hotel Facilities | Nov 3, 2020
Hotel made from CLT opens at Fort Jackson, S.C.
This project used over 4,100 pieces of cross-laminated timber. It's the fourth CLT hotel in the Army's housing portfolio.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 27, 2020
Hotel construction pipeline dips 7% in Q3 2020
Hospitality developers continue to closely monitor the impact the coronavirus will have on travel demand, according to Lodging Econometrics.
Hotel Facilities | Sep 22, 2020
‘Lifestyle’ is adding new color to the select-service hotel sector
A new WATG Strategy white paper examines the design characteristics of the blending.
Giants 400 | Aug 28, 2020
2020 Giants 400 Report: Ranking the nation's largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms
The 2020 Giants 400 Report features more than 130 rankings across 25 building sectors and specialty categories.
Coronavirus | Aug 25, 2020
Video: 5 building sectors to watch amid COVID-19
RCLCO's Brad Hunter reveals the winners and non-winners of the U.S. real estate market during the coronavirus pandemic.
Hotel Facilities | Aug 14, 2020
5 strategies for creating safer, healthier hotel experiences
As hotels begin to reopen, the focus on health and safety takes priority while working to preserve the guest experience.
Hotel Facilities | Jul 30, 2020
Las Vegas’s Circa Resort & Casino will feature contactless technology throughout
The resort is slated to open in late 2020.
Hotel Facilities | Jun 25, 2020
Restoration of 1930s El Paso hotel completes
The project represented a cross-collaboration of Cooper Carry’s Hospitality studio and The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry.
Hotel Facilities | May 26, 2020
Apple is building a 192-room hotel on its billion-dollar Austin Campus
A hotel brand has yet to be announced.
Hotel Facilities | Mar 25, 2020
Chicago's new Sophy Hotel
Completed in 2018, the seven-story, 98-guest room hotel complements the local museums, cultural attractions, and University of Chicago campus.
