Rove Hotels, a joint venture of Meraas and Emaar Properties, has announced its expansion to Saudi Arabia with Rove King Abdullah Economic City, located centrally in the Bay La Sun waterfront district of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in the vicinity of the Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College of Business & Entrepreneurship (MBSC) and a newly established entrepreneurship hub.

Marking the debut of Rove Hotels in Saudi Arabia, Rove King Abdullah Economic City is the first hotel under the contemporary midscale lifestyle hotel brand outside the UAE. It will feature 240 rooms, fitness centres for women and men, and a wide range of lifestyle amenities that underpin the brand values of Rove Hotels to deliver reliable, modern and super-efficient hospitality services that appeal to all. The construction work is anticipated to start in the second quarter of 2018 with the soft opening scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Designed for the highly mobile and socially connected generation of travellers and entrepreneurs, Rove Hotels offers value-driven lifestyle choices and uplifting experiences. It has four operational hotels and four upcoming properties in Dubai. The operational hotels - Rove Downtown, Rove City Centre, Rove Healthcare City and Rove Trade Centre - are popular among Saudi visitors to Dubai for their convenient location and easy access to the city’s attractions.

Like all Rove Hotels, Rove King Abdullah Economic City also takes its contemporary design cues from its surroundings. All rooms will have 48-inch interactive TV screens with smart media hubs and free Wi-Fi. Comfortable mattresses, sofa beds for extra guests, mini-fridges, safety lockers and modern bathrooms with power rain showers are standard for all rooms. Several rooms will be interconnected, ensuring the hotel is suitable for groups and families with children.

Other amenities include a 24-hour gym, food & beverage outlets, lobby areas, outdoor pool and deck, kids pool, parking spaces, spacious meeting rooms, 24-hour self-service laundromat, convenience store, luggage storerooms and safety deposit boxes. Guests have the convenience of a late check-out time of 2pm and a range of smart services including Wi-Fi connectivity.

“KAEC is fast establishing a reputation as the domestic destination of choice for leisure visitors and business events and conferences. Our expanding range of entertainment and leisure offerings are having a tremendous impact on the city’s appeal and ability to deliver a standout experience for visitors,” said Ramzi Solh, CEO, Real Estate Operation and Management Company.

“We have an aggressive development plan to expand our hotel and resort portfolio. Rove King Abdullah Economic City will be a valuable addition to our existing offer and will further expand our appeal to Saudi millennials seeking a quality hotel experience,” he added.

Olivier Harnisch, chief executive officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Rove King Abdullah Economic City brings the innovative concept of contemporary midscale hospitality experiences to the kingdom. Its location in KAEC, one of the fastest growing business and leisure hubs, will make it a preferred choice not only for the young and trendy but also to travellers from around the world seeking value hospitality in a premier setting. The expansion complements the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 to drive economic diversification with tourism development as a strategic growth area.”

Paul Bridger, corporate director of operations, Rove Hotels, said: “With five star hotels accounting for the majority of hotel rooms, the need for high quality midscale hotels is significant in the kingdom. Rove Hotels is addressing the industry ‘white space’ through a new hotel concept that not only helps address the gap in midscale hotel rooms but also creates vibrant social spaces for the young tech-savvy Saudis. The philosophy of Rove Hotels is to deliver culturally inspiring and fuss-free service in central locations. Bay La Sun in KAEC is an ideal destination for the first Rove hotel in Saudi Arabia.”