With over two decades’ worth of experience in crafting a unique space for itself in the world of hospitality, Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts is not looking to slow down any time soon. In fact, the luxury hotel company currently operates a world-class -+6,500key portfolio of 26 luxury properties across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. With impressive sights set on the Saudi market, Jumeirah Group is set to open Jumeirah The Red Sea (early 2024) in partnership with The Red Sea Development Company and Jabal Omar Jumeirah, in Makkah in the early quarter of the upcoming year.

The group boasts some of the most prestigious and captivating properties in the world, from the iconic flagship hotel and the timeless pinnacle of luxury, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, and lavish Arabian palaces across Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah, to its contemporary Maldivian island paradise at Olhahali Island and art-inspired dolce vita on the island of Capri. Whether a modern twist on a British classic in the heart of Knightsbridge, London, at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, or a futuristic setting at Jumeirah Nanjing, Jumeirah’s name is synonymous with service excellence, crafting exceptional experiences for everyone who walks through its doors. Further expanding its footprint into new markets, guests can now enjoy its service beyond expectations at the stunning all-villa Jumeirah Bali and the exquisite Jumeirah Muscat Bay, both of which opened in 2022.

When it comes to creating unforgettable memories for its esteemed guests, Jumeirah Group has honed in on the importance of presenting experiences that add value to each and every guest visit. This strong guest-centric ethos is constantly reinforcing Jumeirah Group’s values and goals, no matter the location of the property. Alexander Lee, Chief Commercial Officer for Jumeirah Group, reiterates the importance of the group’s Saudi-inclined expansion plans, “Jumeirah was born in Dubai, and the group started off as a very regional, GCC-focused brand and then has gone global. This is all very exciting for us, but we are a brand firstborn in the region, and Saudi always felt like a natural choice for the group. We have quite a lot of experience and understanding of what our Middle East guests are looking for. Fortunately for us, we’ve always welcomed a very large number of Saudis into our hotel portfolio, either in Dubai, London, Capri, or the Maldives. We genuinely connect with our guests, and we feel that we have a real point of expertise in terms of understanding what the needs are of the guest and being able to have a service culture and food and beverage offering that is really relevant to guests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

It is indeed, a very exciting time for the Kingdom. And for Jumeirah Group, the excitement arrives in the form of two quite distinct, yet equally sophisticated and discerning projects. It begins with the prestigious Jabal Omar Jumeirah, Makkah, set to open in the first quarter of 2023. Providing a luxurious haven for guests on a unique journey, Jabal Omar Jumeirah Makkah will feature five unique dining outlets including a signature Persian restaurant that will bring to life a culinary path cultivated by the region’s rich cultural past. Lee explains further that this property is estimated to be ready in time for the upcoming Holy month of Ramadan, and that impressively, the multi-phase development project is set to be the biggest Jumeirah property globally, boasting 1126 hotel rooms. “Being able to create an offering that adds value to the visitors of Makkah is of the utmost importance to us,” said Lee.

From Makkah to the pristine shores of the Red Sea, Jumeirah The Red Sea is set to be a game-changing property in the space of sustainable hospitality tourism. Set to open in early 2024, the stunning new address, located on The Red Sea Development Project’s third largest island hub, Shaura, is an undiscovered haven of astonishing natural beauty surrounded by a kaleidoscope of untouched coral reefs. Appealing to those seeking fulfilling and eco-conscious experiences in the new era of luxury travel, the property will open in phase one of the iconic destination with Jumeirah Group among the first hospitality companies to welcome guests. Lee explains that in working closely with The Red Sea Development company, the group is excited “to provide our input guidance on not only the architecture but also the design planning process. We are also very excited about the eco-focused approach to this project, as they [Red Sea Development company] have a very large passion around making sure that they have as limited impact on the environment as possible through not only the construction and development phases, but also on an ongoing, operational basis.” With this exciting approach in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Jumeirah Group deeply considers sustainability as part of their ongoing and future operations as well.

The group continues to focus on a number of sustainability initiatives in their own portfolio of existing hotels, such as the Jumeirah Group’s Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project to continuously support ongoing conservation efforts. “Since 2004, we rescue, rehabilitate and release injured turtles back to the natural environment, and we even have a fully fledged Turtle Hospital facility as part of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah. Our guests not only check in to this property to enjoy the luxury hospitality, we find that they are deeply invested in the well-being of these turtles.” explained Lee.

Also part of Jumeirah Group’s sustainability focus is the elimination of single use plastic use in its Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai property and installing a top-of-the-range Nordaq glass bottling plant at the resort. Lee further adds that this initiative is being rolled out and emulated at other properties in the luxury group’s portfolio of hotels. This notion even extends to how Jumeirah Group’s guests experience the finest dining with the launch of Arcadia at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, a unique, farm to table grill concept that leverages on its latest urban hydroponic farm. Lee further expands on Jumeirah Group’s partnership with technology company Seafood Souq, that “focuses on the sustainability of the seafood supply chain, from sustainable practices in fishing to educating customers on the sourcing of the seafood products. We believe that this partnership allows us to not only have greater insights and better decision making on how we provide seafood that is served in our restaurants, but it also provides a platform to be able to educate our customers on the importance of sustainable food practices.”

Beyond its properties and resorts, Jumeirah Group is also dedicated to destination dining experiences, enjoying an enviable reputation for culinary excellence, with ten signature Jumeirah restaurants included in the inaugural Gault&Millau UAE 2022 guide. The group also has three Michelin-starred restaurants in its portfolio – Shang High, L’Olivo and Al Muntaha. Combining the most authentic and diverse cuisines with spectacular settings to create those unforgettable moments worth sharing, Jumeirah Group’s award-winning homegrown concepts include Sal, KAYTO, Shimmers, Al Mare, Pierchic and French Riviera.

For more information on Jumeirah Group, please visit jumeirah.com.