Rotana appoints Khaled Al Jamal to...

UAE-based hospitality group to operate 21 hotels in the kingdom by 2027

UAE homegrown hospitality brand Rotana has appointed seasoned hospitality leader Khaled Al Jamal as Area Vice President for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jordan.

Based in Riyadh, Al Jamal is tasked with leading Rotana’s growing operations, overseeing new openings and developing local capabilities across a Saudi portfolio that's set to double in size in the next few years.

Currently operating 12 properties in Saudi, Rotana has nine more in the pipeline, with plans for a 21-strong property portfolio in the kingdom by 2027.

With nearly four decades of experience in hospitality spanning the Middle East and Europe, including several years in Saudi, Al Jamal brings a deep understanding of the kingdom and a leadership style that “reflects our values – people-focused, purpose-driven, and committed to making a lasting impact”, said Philip Barnes, Rotana’s CEO.

Al Jamal has held senior leadership positions across Saudi, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Europe with 20 years as a General Manager at JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Fairmont properties in cities including Amman, Cairo, Beirut and Abu Dhabi.

Originally from Jordan, he most recently served as General Manager of JW Marriott Riyadh and Chair of Marriott’s Business Council for Saudi Arabia, where he oversaw cross-brand collaboration and market initiatives.

He began his hospitality career at Budapest Marriott Hotel in Hungary, where he served as Director of Food and Beverage for nearly seven years.

Commenting on the appointment, Khaled Al Jamal said: “This is an exciting moment for Saudi Arabia. The scale of ambition is matched by real on-the-ground shifts, more domestic travellers, more regional demand and more destinations opening up across the country. Rotana’s strong brand presence and regional agility make it well-placed to meet this demand and be aligned with the vision 2030.”

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, Rotana currently operates 12 hotels in Saudi, with properties in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Dammam, Al Khobar and Jubail, and is developing nine new properties in a wide range of locations and formats across the kingdom. These include in Riyadh, Jeddah and mountain destination Al Baha under its Edge, Rayhaan and Arjaan brands, spanning commercial areas, heritage districts and family-focused hubs.

With a portfolio of 114 operational properties across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Türkiye, Rotana is expanding its portfolio with a pipeline of 36 properties.

For more information, visit www.rotana.com

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