A hotel business investor, Muhammad Al-Suwailem, has stressed the need to construct more hotels and furnished apartments of all levels and grades to cater for the millions of pilgrims and visitors flocking to Makkah throughout the year.

“Makkah needs to construct at least 50 hotels in close proximity to the Grand Mosque and the city’s suburbs over the next five years, Al-Suwailem told Arab News, adding that these hotels would provide jobs for hundreds of Saudis.

In a related development, the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) received over 2,500 aspirants for jobs including 1,000 women at a hotel complex facing the Grand Mosque where 500 hotel workers are needed. The Jabal Omar Luxury Hotel Zone is slated to open 38 hotel towers with the cooperation of twenty-six hotel companies. About 60 workers participated in the selection process during the past three days.

Apart from the MCCI, the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, the Human Resources Development Fund and the Jabal Omar Co. participated in the recruitment process. The jobs were offered in hotel financing, restaurant management, room service, maintenance, front office, food and drinks, administrative jobs, personnel department, security and safety and telephone exchange.