Knowledge Economic City (KEC) has partnered with The Bench, organiser of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS), to host the 2027 edition of FHS Saudi Arabia in Madinah for the first time, positioning the city as an emerging destination for hospitality investment and tourism development.
The summit, known as
FHS Saudi Arabia 2027 (Madinah Edition), will take place at the DoubleTree by
Hilton at Madinah Gate, KEC’s first operational destination. The agreement was
signed in Cairo during FHS Egypt, held on November 10-11, 2026, by Saleh Aldakhil,
Brand and Creative Marketing Manager at KEC, and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of
The Bench.
FHS Saudi Arabia is
the Kingdom’s leading hospitality investment forum, bringing together
investors, developers, hotel owners, operators and government representatives
to explore opportunities across the country's growing tourism sector.
The 2026 edition in
Riyadh attracted more than 1,000 participants from 32 countries, with investors
representing US$4.8 trillion in assets under management. According to an
economic impact study by JLL, delegates reported US$1.9 billion in business
opportunities and deal volume generated through the summit.
Madinah Gate to
showcase hospitality development
The 2027 event will be
hosted at Madinah Gate, described as the Kingdom’s first transit-oriented
development, built around the city's Haramain High-Speed Rail station.
The destination
features a 325-room DoubleTree by Hilton, retail and dining facilities, and an
integrated bus station. Its location provides delegates with access to
high-speed rail connections linking Madinah with Jeddah and Makkah.
KEC said hosting the
summit forms part of its strategy to raise Madinah's international profile and
attract investors and hospitality industry leaders to explore development
opportunities in the city.
The company's
6.8-million-square-metre masterplan represents more than SAR24 billion in
committed investment across four flagship destinations: Madinah Gate, Multaqa
AlMadinah, the Islamic World District and Al Alyaa.
At full development,
the masterplan is expected to include approximately 42,000 hotel keys and
40,000 residential units, with projects being developed in collaboration with
five leading international hospitality brands.
Dr Moath Al-Yahya,
Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Economic City, said: “Bringing Future
Hospitality Summit to Madinah for the first time is a milestone for the city.
It gives investors, hotel operators and developers the opportunity to see
firsthand how Madinah is growing and where they can play a role. At Madinah
Gate, delegates will experience an operating destination that brings
hospitality, retail and public transport together at one of the city’s main
gateways.”
Madinah's growing
investment appeal
Ali Shahid, CEO of The
Bench, said: “Madinah is undergoing an extraordinary urban and hospitality
transformation driven by landmark projects. By bringing FHS here, we are
positioning our network directly at the intersection of unprecedented capital
deployment and immense growth. Investors are drawn to Madinah not just because
of its unique cultural and spiritual significance, but because the Kingdom's
regulatory reforms have unlocked a highly lucrative market. For
forward-thinking investors, Madinah offers a rare, high-yielding destination
backed by robust government commitment and an unstoppable demand for
world-class hospitality infrastructure.”
KEC previously
participated as Strategic Partner at FHS Saudi Arabia 2026 in Riyadh and FHS
World 2026 in Dubai, where it engaged with international investors and signed
agreements across its development portfolio.
Hosting the 2027 summit in Madinah will build on those relationships while providing international hospitality stakeholders with direct exposure to the city's expanding tourism infrastructure and investment opportunities. -TradeArabia News Service