TDF announces SAR 2.9B projects at TOURISE

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) announced a portfolio of strategic projects and partnerships worth a total of SAR 2.9 billion on the first day of the TOURISE Summit 2025.

The Fund unveiled five integrated tourism projects comprising a total of 1,211 hotel keys, including the Jared Aseer, Ard Al Dabab, Al-Hadhba Park, Westin Resort, and The House Residences developments, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.+

It also revealed future projects to develop the Heefah and Jabal Abdullah areas under the Mantis hotel brand, as part of a phased implementation plan supporting Aseer’s strategy to establish itself as a leading year-round tourist destination.

In addition, the Fund announced the Sareena project, which focuses on developing nature-based glamping destinations, offering unique hospitality experiences that connect natural landscapes with tourism routes and activities, aiming to stimulate tourism movement and generate economic and developmental opportunities in surrounding regions.

Furthermore, the Fund signed three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to explore investment opportunities with Meliá Hotels International, Spain’s largest hotel group, to develop around 1,000 hotel rooms and introduce new brands to the Saudi market, including ZEL; with INA Hospitality, to develop various hospitality projects and bring the Relais & Châteaux brand to the Kingdom for the first time; and with Italy’s Arsenale, to develop the “Dream of the Desert” project, the company’s first international venture and the first luxury train of its kind in the Middle East, offering a premium travel experience spanning over 1,300 kilometers across five routes, with stops at multiple tourist destinations showcasing Saudi Arabia’s diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage.