Commercial Interiors UK (CIUK), in partnership with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), proudly led the UK Creative Industries Trade Mission to Saudi Arabia, held in September 2025 at the INDEX Saudi Arabia, Riyadh. Commercial Interiors UK's media partner, Design Insider, joined the mission and subsequently published an Event Report. In this series of nine articles, we explore the opportunities, challenges, and leaders in this ambitions growth market for the benefit of commercial suppliers and designers.
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As one of Islam’s two holiest cities, Madinah holds deep spiritual and emotional significance for over 2 billion Muslims around the world. Each year, more than 20 million pilgrims and visitors come to this sacred city, many to perform Hajj or Umrah, others for spiritual and cultural tourism. With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aiming to welcome 30 million Umrah pilgrims annually, that number is only set to grow.
Yet today, Madinah’s hospitality infrastructure is under immense pressure. Occupancy rates remain consistently high throughout the year, and the supply of quality accommodation, especially within walking distance of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, has not kept pace with rising demand. The result is a city with global religious importance that urgently needs a new hospitality model capable of hosting the world. That’s exactly what Rua Al Madinah Holding is building.
At the heart of this transformation is Saeed Albially, Executive Director of Design Development at Rua Al Madinah Holding, who spoke exclusively with Design Insider during INDEX Saudi Arabia 2025.
“We are developing 40,000 keys,” he explained. “This is the largest hospitality project in Madinah. It’s not just a series of hotels, it’s a new urban framework.”
A City Within a City
The Rua Al Madinah project is vast in both ambition and footprint. It is being delivered through a series of super blocks, each structured like a miniature city with full-service hospitality, public space, and integrated retail infrastructure.
“One super block we’re awarding shortly will include 11 hotels and 18 towers, around 4,800 keys in one project alone,” Saeed shared. “Each block also includes around 20,000 square metres of GLA for supporting retail, effectively a small mall for every cluster.”
This scale is necessary to meet growing demand. What was once a seasonal destination is now a year-round spiritual centre.
“Madina used to be busy mainly during Hajj and Ramadan,” he said. “Now, the city is alive year-round, and the occupancy rates are always high due to limited supply.”
This is not merely a development for Saudi Arabia. As Saeed explains, “we’re not building this for ourselves, we are building it for the Islamic world.”
Designing for Spiritual Hospitality
Delivering such a development demands sensitivity, scale, and a deep respect for the religious and cultural expectations of visitors. Every aspect of design must balance spiritual purpose with modern hospitality expectations.
“We have a responsibility to ensure the best possible guest experience,” he said. “That includes how we design for climate, how we handle public space, and how we provide comfort and dignity to every visitor.”
With summer temperatures soaring in Madinah, climate-responsive design is non-negotiable. “It’s not just about buildings, it’s about creating a holistic environment that welcomes people from all over the world.”
In-House Expertise, Global Collaboration
At the project’s core is a hybrid approach to design development, strong in-house oversight complemented by world-class external consultants.
“I believe in having a strong internal design management team,” Saeed shared. “Rua Al Madinah handles all design management internally, working closely with lead consultants and sub-consultants.”
Due to the complexity and sheer volume of the work, the team regularly partners with international firms, from the UK, the US, and across the Middle East. Some developments require up to three lead consultants per project.
So, what does Rua Al Madinah look for in its partners?
“First, we look at capacity. These are huge projects, and the firms must be able to handle the scale. But more importantly, we look at the project leadership. The right project director and design team make all the difference.”
A Welcome for Global Suppliers
For international suppliers and manufacturers, the Rua Al Madinah development presents an extraordinary opportunity, not just to supply goods, but to actively contribute to the design process.
“We are always open to meeting new suppliers,” Saeed affirmed. “Some bring us new materials, others offer insights that contribute to value engineering or improve constructability.”
But the process is far from casual. Rua Al Madinah applies rigorous standards from early engagement through to specification.
“We maintain a strong vendor list. Every specified product must have at least three or four qualified vendors, depending on the level, four-star, five-star, etc. This ensures quality, competition, and delivery reliability.”
What makes a supplier stand out? Innovation, quality, and the willingness to collaborate early. “We don’t want to design in isolation and then go to the market later. We expect suppliers to be part of the process.”
Operators and Design Leadership in Rua Al Madinah
Rua Al Madinah Holding has already secured significant operator partnerships within its developments. Hyatt will oversee three new hotels, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, and Hyatt Place, totalling 1,729 keys, marking the group’s first brand entries into Madinah. Meanwhile, Marriott International has signed to operate eight hotels encompassing 4,400 rooms, across multiple brands located near the Prophet’s Mosque. Accor has also confirmed its participation in the development, committing to over 1,000 rooms, further diversifying the hospitality offering.
On the design front, Jacobs has been appointed to deliver comprehensive design solutions for 12 distinct hotel brands within one of the project’s super-blocks. KEO International Consultants is providing implementation oversight for another super-block, ensuring design integrity throughout the construction process. In parallel, Parsons Corporation has been tasked with project management consultancy across the wider development, managing infrastructure delivery and quality control, including the construction of a major subterranean tunnel designed to enhance pedestrian access to the Holy Mosque.
Supporting the public realm, ICON is leading the landscape architecture strategy, shaping shaded corridors, open spaces, and intuitive navigation that reflect both the cultural heritage and the future-forward ambitions of the development.
Together, these global operators and design consultancies demonstrate Rua Al Madinah’s commitment to delivering a world-class religious and hospitality destination that aligns with the broader objectives of Vision 2030.
A Landmark Moment for Madinah and the Region
Albially’s connection to the project runs deep. He has spent over a decade working on major developments in Madinah, and his personal commitment to the city is unmistakable.
“I’m proud to be working here. Madinah is our beloved city as Muslims, and we have a big role to play in shaping its future.”
As Saudi Arabia continues to diversify its economy and invest in world-class infrastructure through its Vision 2030 programme, hospitality design in cities like Madinah is a critical frontier, not just for developers and designers, but for global suppliers and manufacturers looking to leave their mark in the Kingdom.
Rua Al Madinah is not just a masterplan. It is a spiritual gateway, one that welcomes the best of global design, done with purpose!
This article is included in Design Insider’s INDEX Saudi Arabria Event Report. Find the full comprehensive report here.