Sector tipped by Lonely Planet as upcoming travel trend for 2008 onwards -

Sharia-compliant hotels the next big thing, Regional hotel giants prepare to debate at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

The Islamic hospitality market or Sharia-compliant hotels is pegged to be one of the fastest growing hospitality segments, according to Jonathan Worsley conference co-organiser, Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC).

He said that Dubai-based hospitality group Almulla Hospitality, has recently launched its Sharia-compliant hotel portfolio, comprising three brand tiers. The Group has also cited plans to target development in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Egypt and Malaysia in the first instance, with Thailand and Europe following closely behind.

"Almulla joins other UAE-based players including Shaza Hotels from Kempinski and Tamani Hotels & Suites from KM Group among others," he said.

Rotana too has tickled the sector recently launching Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts with offer-specific ‘no-alcohol' label.

Almulla Hospitality's chairman, Abdulla Almulla, said that the demand for Sharia-compliant accommodation is on the increase and represents 10 per cent of the world tourism market.

‘'In less than a decade Middle East leaders have transformed the landscape and created one of the world's fastest growing regions, with hospitality investment at its core,'' Almulla said.

"UAE travellers alone spend more than US$4.9 million on travel annually and the Islamic hotel product will be in high-demand, certainly reaching 10 per cent in the short-term.''

Meanwhile, Rezidor Hotel Group has estimated that the Sharia-compliant hospitality market will grow by staggering 20 per cent per year over the next decade.

Rotana agrees that there is a high-demand and Selim El Zyr, the group's President and CEO said that this is driven by the desire for individual choice.

"In this ever-changing world, individuality of choice is important to the traveller and some guests seek to reflect the values they hold in the accommodation they choose," he explained.

"We have introduced the Rayhaan brand to Rotana's hotel and resort portfolio after considering the diverse needs of our guests. Rayhaan offers the world-class standards synonymous with the Rotana name while being an entirely new concept with inherent appeal, particularly to guests of Middle Eastern heritage and desires."

This year's AHIC will spotlight new hospitality trends in its session dubbed ‘Multi-faceted future of Islamic Hospitality' and will further beg the question, are Sharia-compliant hotels the next big thing or a short term trend?

Session moderator is Naseem Javed, President of ABC Nameback International.   Alongside Almulla, panellists include Christopher Hartley, Chief Executive, Shaza Hotels, Mohmood Al Koofi, Chief Executive Officer, REEF and Sayed Hadi Al Alawi, Chairman, Al Hayat Group.

www.arabianconference.com