Nearly 500 hotels under construction in Middle East/Africa according to STR Global, as operators push ahead with projects despite regional turmoil. Following a tumultuous period in the Middle East, the investment climate post Arab Spring will be the main focus at the annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2012 (AHIC), which will take place in Dubai, on 28-30 April 2012 at Madinat Jumeirah. 

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, organiser MEED Events in partnership with Bench Events has put together a three-day programme designed to explore the outlook for investment in the Middle East’s changing landscape.

“Despite the upheaval of the past 12 months, the Middle East offers some of the world’s best tourism and hotel investment opportunities. But the region should not be viewed as a single, homogenous market. It covers a large number of diverse markets, each providing its own opportunities and challenges,” said Richard Thompson, Editor, MEED.

“The long-term potential of North African markets such as Libya, Tunisia and Egypt cannot be questioned due to their proximity to Europe and their abundance of natural and cultural assets. But the political upheaval of the past year has created an air of uncertainty in those countries that has increased the real and perceived risks for investors and tourists,” added Thompson.

Despite the upheaval, major operators are continuing to push ahead with their project plans. According to STR Global Construction Pipeline Report in November 2011, the Middle East/Africa hotel development pipeline comprises 494 hotels totaling 133,705 rooms.

Among the key countries in the region the United Arab Emirates reported the largest number of rooms in the In Construction phase with 21,238 rooms. Saudi Arabia reported 11,270 rooms, Qatar 5,544 rooms, Egypt 4,807 rooms and Jordan 3,758 rooms.

Looking ahead to the next three years some 67 hotels have been announced by major operators in the United Arab Emirates according to Hotelier Middle East. 47 hotels have been announced in Saudi Arabia, 18 in Egypt, 17 in Oman, 12 in Qatar, 10 in Morocco and 4 in Iraq.

“In the oil exporting states of the Gulf however, the high degree of political stability combined with government initiatives to attract tourism investment offers some very exciting opportunities. In particular, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Oman offer excellent opportunities albeit in very different ways,” commented Thompson.

AHIC will hold sessions that focus on individual case studies, including Egypt, one of the MENA’s most important markets. Participants will also discuss the challenges of developing and operating in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and investment opportunities in Ras Al Khaimah.

In a separate roundtable session, experts will look at opportunities in Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

Middle East investors made the headlines just late last year with a number of high profile hotel acquisitions in Western Europe. The worsening debt crisis there may result in further bargains to be had in the year ahead. Europe will be a key focus as experts discuss the global round up of investment opportunities outside the Middle East.