InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the signing of a management agreement with Al-Majd Al-Arabiah Company for the “world’s largest” Holiday Inn hotel. Holiday Inn Makkah Abraaj Al Tayseer is due to open in the holy city.

Comprising 5,154 rooms across five towers, Holiday Inn Makkah Abraaj Al-Tayseer will take the site of the current Abraaj Al-Tayseer pilgrim accommodation and open in phases. Nearly 1,650 rooms across two towers are due to open its doors to guests by the end of this year. The remaining 3,500 rooms are slated to open over the following three years.

The opening of Holiday Inn Makkah Abraaj Al-Tayseer will cater to the growth in pilgrim visits to Makkah. Haj visit numbers are expected to more than double, growing from 2 million in 2013 to exceed 5 million by 2025.

Located just 900 meters from the Grand Mosque, Holiday Inn Makkah Abraaj Al-Tayseer will offer guests views of the Grand Mosque.

Pascal Gauvin, chief operating officer, India and MEA, IHG, said: “As we celebrate our 40th year in Saudi Arabia, we are all the more focused on continuing our expansion in this key market. With religious travel growing, and the government set to improve infrastructure in line with this, there is a need for more branded accommodation in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.”

Selman Al-Fares, representing Al-Majd Al-Arabiah Company, added: “This is a milestone development for us and we’re confident Holiday Inn Makkah Abraaj Al-Tayseer will bring the holy city’s hospitality to another level. We look forward to the opening of the first two towers later this year.”

IHG is one of the largest international hotel groups in Saudi Arabia with 25 hotels (5,900 rooms) operating across three brands: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn.