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RIYADH: French hospitality group Accor and Naif Alrajhi Investment have signed an agreement to bring the Middle East’s first TRIBE hotel to Saudi Arabia. 

The project, featuring a 250-key property, will be situated within Riyadh’s King Salman Park and will include the debut of TRIBE Living, a new residential community concept. 

The collaboration builds on the partnership between the two entities, which successfully launched Fairmont Ramla Serviced Residences last year, according to a press release. 

This initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and boost the tourism sector, targeting 150 million annual visitors by 2030. 

“The introduction of TRIBE and TRIBE Living to Saudi Arabia showcases our focus on design-led, lifestyle experiences that meet the growing demand for modern, accessible hotel offerings in Riyadh,” said Duncan O’Rourke, Accor’s CEO for premium, midscale and economy brands for Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. 

The TRIBE Riyadh King Salman Park hotel will also feature two restaurants, meeting facilities, a banquet hall, a gym, and a swimming pool. 

TRIBE Living will introduce 150 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, offering residents access to the hotel’s dining and recreational amenities, the release added. 

Since its launch in 2017, the TRIBE brand has grown to 18 hotels with 2,708 rooms globally. 

Riyadh is emerging as a global hub for business and leisure, fueled by growing demand for premium accommodations. Accor aims to capitalize on this trend with 1,683 operational keys in the city and 2,740 in the pipeline. 

The announcement follows the King Salman Park Foundation’s plan to develop its first real estate investment plot in collaboration with Naif Alrajhi Investment. 

“We are delighted to be working with Accor once again, a trusted partner, to introduce new and iconic brands to the local market for the first time. This partnership is a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to delivering world-class destinations that cater to both local and international audiences,” Naif Saleh Al-Rajhi, chairman and CEO of Naif Alrajhi Investment. 

The project is part of King Salman Park’s Package 1, a 290,000-sq.-meter mixed-use development featuring residential, commercial, retail, and recreational spaces. The district is strategically located near the park’s key attractions, such as the Royal Arts Complex and Visitors Pavilion. 

Accor is planning substantial growth in the Kingdom, with 45 new establishments and 9,800 keys expected by 2030, O’Rourke told Arab News in May. 

Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector has gained momentum, driven by large-scale events such as Riyadh Season and AlUla Season. 

A report by JLL released earlier this month highlighted that urban infrastructure development is creating new opportunities in the Kingdom, driven by the government’s push for economic diversification and increased tourism.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has inaugurated the Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal, underscoring the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen public-private partnerships, enhance agricultural trade, and bolster food security across the region.

The event was attended by Abdulrahman Al-Fadli, minister of environment, water and agriculture, and by various government and private sector officials, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal will serve public and private sector importers, and boasts a storage capacity of 156,000 tonnes, including 12 silos with a combined capacity of 96,000 tonnes.

Food security has risen up the agenda in recent years, as countries in the Gulf contend with the impacts of climate change, the consequences of trade-disrupting conflicts such as the Ukraine-Russia war, and interruptions to supply routes through the Red Sea.

In September 2022, in response to these challenges, the Kingdom collaborated with regional partners to launch a food security action plan with an initial funding of $10 billion.

The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal will be operated by the National Grains Co., a joint venture between the national shipping carrier Bahri and the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co.

It features a 650-meter conveyor belt and a discharge rate of 800 tonnes per hour directly from ships, with an annual handling capacity exceeding 3 million tonnes of grain.

According to Bahr’s statement to the Saudi Stock Exchange, the inauguration delay was caused by the inclusion of additional requirements to enhance future operational efficiency, along with the construction of extra infrastructure to accommodate potential future expansions.

The company said that because of this the total project cost rose by 7 percent from the initially allocated SR412.5 million ($109.7 million), though the increase is not deemed significant.

The Yanbu Grain Handling Terminal aims to become a world-class logistics hub, connecting three continents and supporting the Kingdom’s vision for a resilient and efficient agricultural supply chain.

Established in 2020 as a strategic partnership between SALIC and Bahri, the National Grain Co. aims to fulfill the Kingdom’s future feed grain requirements while enhancing its global competitiveness.

It is committed to advancing grain trade, handling, and storage through the Yanbu terminal, strengthening supply chains and ensuring price stability across Saudi Arabia.

SALIC, a Public Investment Fund-owned company, was formed in 2011 to secure food supply for Saudi Arabia through mass production and investment.

When the project was announced in 2020, Al-Fadli, who is also the chairman of SALIC’s board of directors, said: “The project aims to enhance the velocity of the main grain influx to Saudi Arabia and is considered the first regional center for grains in the commercial port of Yanbu.”

He added that SALIC relies on the geographical location of the Kingdom and the port infrastructure to enhance food distribution in the region by linking the Kingdom to global grain sources, especially countries where SALIC is investing.

A grain delivery service to customers within the Kingdom has been introduced as part of the project, ensuring greater proximity to clients, enhanced customer experience, and improved profitability margins.