RIYADH: The first W Hotel has opened in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, marking the entry of the chain into Saudi Arabia.
KAFD said in a statement that the opening represents a significant step in strengthening the district’s hospitality offerings and cementing its status as a premier business and leisure travel destination.
The master plan for the financial district was officially approved in 2007 and has since evolved into a leading mixed-use development under Vision 2030.
Among other major hotel chains to open branches in the district recently include the opening of Kimpton KAFD Riyadh in September 2025.
A hotel management agreement was also signed with Hilton at the Future Investment Initiative conference in October 2025 to operate a 450-key hotel in KAFD.
The new hotel is close KAFD’s offices, residences, retail and cultural venues. It also has direct access to the KAFD Metro linking it to the wider city and King Khalid International Airport. The hotel has 210 rooms, including 17 suites and two penthouses.
Its seven restaurants and lounges include Sira, a Latin American restaurant centered on open-fire asado cooking; Beni, an all-day coffee house serving craft coffee and artisanal ice cream; and WET Deck, an open-air poolside venue with Mediterranean-inspired bites and skyline views.
The hotel also has more than 1,000 square meters of event space and a range of wellness and lifestyle amenities.
Sultan Al-Obaida, chief commercial officer of KAFD DMC, said in a statement: “We are pleased to welcome W Hotels to KAFD as the brand makes its debut in the Kingdom.
“The opening of W Riyadh — KAFD reflects our continued ability to attract globally recognized brands that enhance the district’s business and lifestyle ecosystem.
“With Saudi Arabia targeting 150 million visitors annually by 2030 and tourism projected to contribute over 10 percent of GDP, demand for high-quality, centrally located hotels continues to grow.”
