Saudi Arabia is planning to build the world’s largest hotel, containing 10,000 rooms in 12 towers, in the holy city of Makkah.
The Abraj Kudai Hotel, designed by multidisciplinary consultant Shair and Partners, will cover 1.4 million square metres and will cater to Muslims coming to the city for the hajj.
The $3.5bn residential and commercial complex will contain 70 restaurants, four rooftop helipads, royal floors and a convention centre.
Ten of the towers will provide four-star accommodation and the other two will be five-star rated.
The hotel’s design is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Saudi desert fortress.
The Saudi Binladin Group holds the main construction contract, and London-based design company Areen Hospitality has been awarded a contract to design the interiors.
Andrew Lindwood, head of design at Areen, said: “We’re honoured to be trusted with such a challenge. Designing hotel interiors on such a massive scale, with no operators yet in place, requires complex programming and design resourcing.
“At Areen Hospitality we allow for this and have the experience to respond to such a challenge without ever losing the creative essence needed to welcome and surprise the guests expected at Abraj Kudai.”
The Abraj Kudai is due to be completed in 2017.
