The lobby of the new Address Jabal Omar Makkah. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts
The lobby of the new Address Jabal Omar Makkah. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts
The lobby of the new Address Jabal Omar Makkah. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts
The lobby of the new Address Jabal Omar Makkah. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts

Address Hotels & Resorts to open a 1,484-room hotel in Makkah


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

Address Hotels & Resorts has shared a first look at its upcoming property in Makkah.

The hospitality brand's largest hotel, Address Jabal Omar Makkah, will offer 1,484 rooms and suites in the heart of the holy city. It consists of two towers that form a gateway leading to the courtyard of the Grand Mosque for those coming from the city's Masar development. An opening date has yet to be confirmed.

Each structure has its own helipad and is home to 634 rooms and 108 suites, including a three-bedroom presidential suite and a four-bedroom penthouse measuring 470 square metres and offering views of the Kaaba. A bridge links the two buildings and is the site of the world’s highest prayer room, capable of accommodating about 500 people.

Address Jabal Omar Makkah offers 1,484 rooms and suites in two towers. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts
Address Jabal Omar Makkah offers 1,484 rooms and suites in two towers. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts

The project is owned by the Jabal Omar Development Company, one of the largest real estate companies in the Middle East. “This new mixed-use development will create a new gateway along the route to the Grand Mosque for pilgrims from the world over,” said Khaled Al Amoudi, chief executive of Jabal Omar Development Company. “We will continue to contribute to the kingdom’s Saudi Vision 2030 goal of hosting 30 million pilgrims by 2030.

“We are delighted to introduce a new landmark in Makkah, as part of the company’s strategic transformation plans and to support the progressive Makkah development projects under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.”

One of the hotel's standard rooms. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts
One of the hotel's standard rooms. Photo: Address Hotels & Resorts

Address Jabal Omar Makkah is designed by Foster + Partners, which used the area’s mountainous terrain as a source of inspiration. The towers sit on a plot of more than 5,000 square metres, which will include a commercial area featuring offering local, regional and international brands, as well as food courts and restaurants.

Within the hotel, there will be four restaurants, two lobby lounges and two club lounges, offering traditional Hejazi cuisine and other Saudi Arabian specialities, while a business centre will offer facilities for corporate meetings, events and conferences.

"We are thrilled to bring the Address brand to Makkah, one of the most important and sacred destinations in the world," says Mark Kirby, head of Emaar Hospitality Group. “Every detail has been thought of to honour both the spiritual and geographic surroundings of this special area.

"We wanted to ensure that the elements of nature were brought into the space so that the property reflects a sense of place, different to walking into a luxury hotel in any other city in the world. Guests will feel the magnificence of Makkah and the spirit of the Address Hotels & Resorts from the moment they set eyes on the structure.”

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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street

The seven points are:

Shakhbout bin Sultan Street

Dhafeer Street

Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)

Salama bint Butti Street

Al Dhafra Street

Rabdan Street

Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)

Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3

Company Profile

Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

Dhadak 2

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Kesha

(Kemosabe)

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The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

The essentials

What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

When: Friday until March 9

Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City

Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.

Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.

Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Tickets

Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

RESULT

Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5

Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')

War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

MATCH INFO

Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 1', Kane 8' & 16') West Ham United 3 (Balbuena 82', Sanchez og 85', Lanzini 90' 4)

Man of the match Harry Kane

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

Key 2013/14 UAE Motorsport dates

October 4: Round One of Rotax Max Challenge, Al Ain (karting)

October 1: 1 Round One of the inaugural UAE Desert Championship (rally)

November 1-3: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Formula One)

November 28-30: Dubai International Rally

January 9-11: 24Hrs of Dubai (Touring Cars / Endurance)

March 21: Round 11 of Rotax Max Challenge, Muscat, Oman (karting)

April 4-10: Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (Endurance)

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

Updated: March 14, 2023, 4:33 AM