Asian hospitality management company Archipelago and Saudi Arabian master developer Knowledge Economic City (KEC) have entered a strategic joint venture that will serve as the foundation of a new hospitality management company in Madinah.
KEC is a pioneering publicly listed master developer operating under the regulation of the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority which actively contributes to Madinah’s urban and economic transformation.
Among the partnership’s goals are the establishment of a specialised hospitality management company, the creation of a new Saudi hotel brand, and to deliver the first project in Madinah as part of KEC’s broader expansion in the Saudi Arabian hospitality sector.
This joint venture also reflects KEC’s commitment to strengthening its position as an integrated investment platform through partnerships with global leaders, while developing scalable operating models that deliver sustainable economic value.
Coming up: 2,500 keys in the Madinah
The newly established company will operate under unified operational governance and a clear mandate to manage and operate hotels and hospitality assets within KEC’s destinations in Madinah, with the potential to expand its services to additional locations across Saudi Arabia in future phases.
The partnership’s initial project thus represents a major milestone in the local hospitality landscape, with the development of a hotel comprising approximately 2,500 keys, one of the largest hotel assets ever launched by KEC and among the most significant new hospitality projects entering the Saudi market.
The development is designed to serve as the launch platform for a new Saudi hotel brand, inspired by national identity and the cultural spirit of Madinah.
Designed for scalability, the brand is structured for future growth through franchise and management models across the Kingdom, supporting broader diversification efforts within Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector.
At the same time, the project will operate under a unified hotel management model centered on operational efficiency, asset optimization and enabling national talent across the full spectrum of hotel operations, creating direct and indirect employment opportunities within the sector.
