The Royal Commission for Al-’Ula (RCU) has announced a partnership with hotel operator GHM, the result of which will be The Chedi Hegra. The 35-room hotel will welcome guests to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site from Q4 2023.
The hotel will be built by RCU directly into several existing structures, including an old railway station and the nearby Hegra Fort. Structural and exterior walls, some with historical mud-brick construction, are being preserved and integrated with modern architecture, with the vast majority of the UNESCO World Heritage Site remaining untouched by construction.
The property will comprise three fine-dining restaurants, a café, a full-service spa and pool, with many of the buildings connected by an overhead art canopy focused on wind movement and natural light. One of the restaurants, which finds home inside the old railway station, will feature an exhibition of carefully preserved artefacts, including a fully-restored train, while another will sit within the Hegra Fort, and a third will feature unobstructed views from a sunken water basin seating area.
RCU has ensured that all design and construction efforts align with the Sustainability Charter for Al-‘Ula, including a light-touch tourism approach, planting of native flora and an all-electric mobility system. Where possible, the project will use local construction materials and work with local businesses, while the hotel is expected to create at least 120 jobs once fully operational.
“GHM is thrilled to introduce this luxurious heritage boutique hotel that will offer authentic, unrivalled lifestyle experience deep within the ancient Nabataean site of Hegra. As the first hotel within Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, we are committed to preserve the site’s integrity while seamlessly integrating modern architecture and comforts,” says Tommy Lai, Chief Executive Officer of GHM. “I am certain that guests will recognise and appreciate the value we place in minimising our environmental impact, through the sustainable efforts of the hotel, in addition to our dedication in conserving the legacy of Hegra – a true GHM hallmark of creating inspired spaces.”
