Sofitel and the King Abdullah International Foundation have signed a management contract finalising the development of a Sofitel hotel in Riyadh.

The contract was signed in the presence of HRH Prince Khalid ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abdulaziz, chairman of the board of directors of the foundation, and Denis Hennequin, Accor chairman.

The selected location is set within a fast-growing area of the capital city, and in close proximity to key businesses, such as the central business district on King Fahad Road, the King Saud University and the Diplomatic Quarter.

This makes the hotel an ideal venue for high-end domestic and international business travelers, government officials and diplomats.

The five star luxury hotel will be the anchor point of a major complex, developed over an area of approximately 100,000 square meters.

This mixed-used development will also comprise the headquarters of the Foundation, a mosque and a convention center.

The Sofitel, which is currently under construction, is expected to open by the end of 2015.

Guests will enjoy a full range of facilities that include around 400 rooms and suites, six food and beverage outlets, various meeting facilities, a swimming pool, a spa and additional recreational amenities.

The Foundations hotel will become an architectural landmark on the Riyadh landscape.

The hotel and the rest of the complex will provide a lasting legacy to the vision and initiatives of King Abdullah, bringing about a lasting and positive impact to humanity as a whole.

“We believe that the combination of the Sofitel brand with its contemporary and distinguished style will be a perfect match with the iconic and modern architectural design of the Foundations hotel building.

“In years to come, we are sure that the Foundation will be acknowledged as an important venue and a platform for globally significant philanthropic events.

“Our partnership with Accor, who has a reputation for high providing outstanding levels of hospitality service, will form an important building block to support the lasting success of the Foundation,” stated Salim Al-Aydh, executive president of the foundation, who signed the contract.

This new project is a major step for Sofitel, highlighting their enthusiasm for the Gulf region, where four hotels are already established, in addition to a future launch scheduled in Dubai in July 2013.

“We believe there is great potential for Sofitel in the Middle East, and we are delighted to sign a new agreement for this exceptional project in the Kingdom, with the King Abdullah International Foundation.

“We believe that the Foundation’s humanitarian values and objectives are well aligned with Accor’s solid commitment towards the environment, local employment opportunities, talent development and the blend between different cultures,” declared Hennequin.