Premier Inn doubles gulf footprint with US$545M deal for 3,500 new hotel keys

UAE – Premier Inn Middle East has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Equitativa Real Estate to develop six to eight new hotels across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

This AED 2 billion (US$545 million) strategic partnership will add approximately 3,500 keys to the brand’s regional portfolio, effectively doubling its current footprint and marking one of the largest mid-market hospitality expansions in the GCC.

A Strategic Leap into High-Demand Markets

Premier Inn currently operates 11 hotels with 3,184 keys across the UAE and Qatar. This deal will literally double that.

The new properties will target Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Jeddah, with a laser focus on city centre and airport locations, exactly where travellers need reliable, great-value stays most.

Simon Leigh, Managing Director of Premier Inn Middle East, noted the partnership targets markets where “demand for high-quality mid-market accommodation continues to outpace supply.”

With Dubai alone welcoming a record 19.59 million visitors in 2025, the region is crying out for precisely this kind of sensible, scalable expansion.

Operational Expertise Meets Regional Real Estate Muscle

The collaboration pairs Premier Inn’s operational backbone, backed by Emirates Group and Whitbread, with Equitativa’s deep asset management experience.

Sylvain Vieujot, Equitativa’s Chairman, highlighted that Premier Inn’s “strong value proposition aligns well with the needs of travellers across the GCC.”

Translation: this isn’t just a property deal; it’s a carefully calibrated response to what modern Gulf travellers actually want. Not too fancy, not too basic. Just consistently, reliably right.

Perfect Timing for National Tourism Ambitions

The targeted cities align perfectly with Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s D33 economic agenda. Riyadh and Jeddah are sprinting toward massive tourism targets, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi continue breaking visitor records.

By planting its flag in these strategic corridors, especially near airports, Premier Inn is positioning itself as the sensible traveller’s automatic choice.

For the millions flying into the Gulf each year, this expansion delivers a simple, wonderful promise: your favourite comfortable, affordable bed is about to be waiting in even more places.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.