Accor, Mayan Properties forge landmark development pact to accelerate growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

AFRICA – Accor has achieved a significant milestone by signing a Master Development Agreement with Mayan Properties, a subsidiary of Resources Investment, aimed at expansive growth across Sub-Saharan Africa.

This strategic alliance commits to developing five new hotels, introducing over 1,100 keys to Accor’s regional portfolio.

The agreement demonstrates a long-term commitment to creating a coordinated and efficient approach to hospitality market penetration in Africa.

Building on existing successes like Novotel Nouakchott in Mauritania and Mövenpick Moroni in Comoros, Accor and Mayan aim to leverage complementary strengths.

Accor brings global operational expertise and a diverse brand portfolio across 15 brands and 175 properties in Africa, while Mayan Properties provides UAE-backed sustainable investment leadership.

The scale of the portfolio is critical to establishing market dominance and achieving operational synergy.

The collaboration supports local economies by creating jobs and enhancing tourism infrastructure while catering to business and leisure travelers.

Maya Ziade, Accor’s Chief Development Officer for Middle East, Africa & Türkiye, emphasized the agreement’s alignment with Africa’s tourism growth and long-term development.

Mohammed Al Dhaheri of Resources Investment highlighted the UAE’s pivotal role in driving sustainable investments in Africa’s fast-growing tourism markets.

This partnership solidifies Accor’s position as a leading international operator in Sub-Saharan Africa’s dynamic hospitality landscape.

Accor has been accelerating its investments across the Middle East and Africa in 2025, focusing on expanding its presence in key markets.

In Saudi Arabia, the group operates 45 hotels with plans to double this number within five years, in alignment with Vision 2030. Accor’s new developments include the debut of the Tribe hotel brand in Riyadh, featuring 250 keys and introducing the innovative Tribe Living residential concept.

In the UAE, Accor has strengthened its partnership with the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and Valor Hospitality by developing a six-hotel cluster at Deira Waterfront, adding 999 keys to its inventory.

The group has over 350 properties across the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, and plans to add 130 new hotels by 2028. Accor’s strategic focus includes midscale and economy segments which are experiencing fast growth, driven by inbound tourism demand from Asia, Europe, and North America.

This expansion, coupled with digital innovation and sustainability efforts, supports Accor’s leadership in the region’s dynamic hospitality market.

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