Knowledge Economic City (KEC) has partnered with The Bench, organiser of the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS), to host the 2027 edition of FHS Saudi Arabia in Madinah for the first time, positioning the city as an emerging destination for hospitality investment and tourism development.

The summit, known as FHS Saudi Arabia 2027 (Madinah Edition), will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton at Madinah Gate, KEC’s first operational destination. The agreement was signed in Cairo during FHS Egypt, held on November 10-11, 2026, by Saleh Aldakhil, Brand and Creative Marketing Manager at KEC, and Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench.

FHS Saudi Arabia is the Kingdom’s leading hospitality investment forum, bringing together investors, developers, hotel owners, operators and government representatives to explore opportunities across the country's growing tourism sector.

The 2026 edition in Riyadh attracted more than 1,000 participants from 32 countries, with investors representing US$4.8 trillion in assets under management. According to an economic impact study by JLL, delegates reported US$1.9 billion in business opportunities and deal volume generated through the summit.

Madinah Gate to showcase hospitality development

The 2027 event will be hosted at Madinah Gate, described as the Kingdom’s first transit-oriented development, built around the city's Haramain High-Speed Rail station.

The destination features a 325-room DoubleTree by Hilton, retail and dining facilities, and an integrated bus station. Its location provides delegates with access to high-speed rail connections linking Madinah with Jeddah and Makkah.

KEC said hosting the summit forms part of its strategy to raise Madinah's international profile and attract investors and hospitality industry leaders to explore development opportunities in the city.

The company's 6.8-million-square-metre masterplan represents more than SAR24 billion in committed investment across four flagship destinations: Madinah Gate, Multaqa AlMadinah, the Islamic World District and Al Alyaa.

At full development, the masterplan is expected to include approximately 42,000 hotel keys and 40,000 residential units, with projects being developed in collaboration with five leading international hospitality brands.

Dr Moath Al-Yahya, Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Economic City, said: “Bringing Future Hospitality Summit to Madinah for the first time is a milestone for the city. It gives investors, hotel operators and developers the opportunity to see firsthand how Madinah is growing and where they can play a role. At Madinah Gate, delegates will experience an operating destination that brings hospitality, retail and public transport together at one of the city’s main gateways.”

Madinah's growing investment appeal

Ali Shahid, CEO of The Bench, said: “Madinah is undergoing an extraordinary urban and hospitality transformation driven by landmark projects. By bringing FHS here, we are positioning our network directly at the intersection of unprecedented capital deployment and immense growth. Investors are drawn to Madinah not just because of its unique cultural and spiritual significance, but because the Kingdom's regulatory reforms have unlocked a highly lucrative market. For forward-thinking investors, Madinah offers a rare, high-yielding destination backed by robust government commitment and an unstoppable demand for world-class hospitality infrastructure.”

KEC previously participated as Strategic Partner at FHS Saudi Arabia 2026 in Riyadh and FHS World 2026 in Dubai, where it engaged with international investors and signed agreements across its development portfolio.

Hosting the 2027 summit in Madinah will build on those relationships while providing international hospitality stakeholders with direct exposure to the city's expanding tourism infrastructure and investment opportunities. -TradeArabia News Service