New Luxury Hotels in Riyadh (2026)

Why it leads: it's the freshest major opening in the city and the W brand's first hotel in Saudi Arabia. W Riyadh opened in 2026 in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the city's gleaming new business quarter, with 210 rooms, the brand's signature WET Deck pool, an AWAY Spa and a FIT gym, all in W's loud, design-led style.

On the food: this is where it makes its play, with seven restaurants and bars across the hotel, a serious dining count that signals Riyadh's new hotels are competing on their kitchens, not just their rooms. Who it's for: younger, design-minded travellers who want energy and a scene rather than hushed grandeur.

Honest note: W's high-volume, party-leaning style is the opposite of restful, and KAFD is a business district that can feel quiet outside working hours; confirm exact opening dates directly when you book a brand-new hotel.

Source: Luxury Travel Advisor; The Opening List.

Why it's here: it was the first hotel to open in Diriyah, the mud-brick birthplace of the Saudi state on Riyadh's western edge, beside the UNESCO-listed At-Turaif district. It opened in December 2024 with 134 rooms and suites built in the traditional Najdi style, and it is the opening shot of a development that will eventually hold dozens of luxury hotels.

On the food: the draw here is place and heritage, with dining that leans into Najdi and wider Saudi flavours rather than international hotel fare, a genuine taste of the region around the old fortress. Who it's for: travellers who want history and architecture over a skyscraper view.

Honest note: Diriyah is an active, growing construction zone around the heritage core, so expect building works nearby for some years yet, and it sits well out from central Riyadh.

Source: Marriott (Bab Samhan); Hospitality Net.

Why it's here: it brought Mandarin Oriental to Saudi Arabia for the first time. This is the landmark Al Faisaliah tower hotel, open since 2000, which Mandarin Oriental took over and rebranded in 2024, so it is new as a Mandarin Oriental rather than a new building. It keeps its 325 rooms and the globe-topped tower's prime Olaya address in the centre of the city.

On the food: the tower has long been a Riyadh dining destination, including its globe-level restaurant with sweeping city views, now under the Mandarin Oriental banner. Who it's for: travellers who want a proven, central grand hotel rather than a brand-new gamble.

Honest note: be clear-eyed that this is a rebrand of an established hotel, not a ground-up 2026 opening, so the bones are familiar even if the service standard has been reset to Mandarin Oriental's.

Source: Mandarin Oriental; Business Traveller.

Why it matters: it would bring Aman's hushed, ultra-private template to Saudi Arabia for the first time. Planned for the Wadi Safar area near Diriyah, the resort has been reported with around 78 rooms plus branded residences, a spa and restaurants, set in a landscaped desert-valley setting rather than the city core.

Who it's for: Aman loyalists and seclusion-seekers who want calm and space near, but not in, the capital. How to book: not yet open; watch Aman for a firm reservation date.

Honest note: Aman openings are famous for slipping, so the reported 2026 date is a target, not a promise; treat this as a watchlist project for now.

Source: Connecting Travel; Aman.

Why it matters: it would add the Italian jeweller's design-forward hotel brand to Riyadh, part of Bulgari Hotels' push across the Middle East. Coverage points to a 2026 to 2027 window, with the brand's trademark glossy, fashion-house aesthetic and a strong dining and bar focus expected.

Who it's for: design and fashion-led travellers who follow the Bulgari Hotels collection. How to book: not yet open; details and a firm date are still to be confirmed by the brand.

Honest note: this is the least pinned-down entry that we have given its own line, with a date range rather than a fixed year, so treat it as under development and verify before planning around it.

Source: Connecting Travel; Bulgari Hotels.

Why it's here: because it is the single biggest reason Riyadh's hotel map will look different in a few years. Diriyah Gate, a multi-billion-dollar heritage development, has signed a long roster of luxury brands, with reporting naming The Ritz-Carlton, Raffles, Rosewood, Six Senses, Baccarat, Orient Express, Park Hyatt, Oberoi, Armani and more. Bab Samhan opened first; the rest are still rising.

Who it's for: anyone tracking where the next great cluster of Middle East hotels will land. How to book: not yet, beyond Bab Samhan; most of these are targeted for 2027 and later.

Honest note: a pipeline this large, on this timeline, is precisely where announced dates slip, so we are listing the line-up as a pipeline rather than promising any individual opening this year.

Source: Connecting Travel; Time Out Riyadh.