New venture to introduce short-term rental platform in Madinah

Saudi Arabia developer Knowledge Economic City (KEC) and Dubai-based operator Maison Privee have partnered to establish a new company specialising in short-term rentals in Madinah, designed to meet the needs of the Holy City’s expanding and diverse visitor base. 

 

The new entity will develop and operate a management platform on a scale Maison Privee describes as ‘unprecedented in the region,” delivering fully furnished accommodations and a comprehensive suite of hospitality services. 

 

These include digital booking, multilingual support, concierge, housekeeping, transport and event coordination, all features targeted at business travellers, pilgrims and families seeking greater flexibility than traditional hotels can offer.

 

The first project in this new venture will be Al Alyaa, a mixed-use masterplan community within walking distance of the Prophet’s Mosque, encompassing nearly 1,500 residential units, retail, hospitality spaces and landscaped areas. 

 

The new platform aims to absorb visitor surges, especially during religious festivals and large-scale events, broaden Madinah’s accommodation mix and support Saudi Vision 2030 goals by expanding capacity and delivering flexible lodging for a growing mix of leisure and business travellers.

 

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This move comes as Madinah’s hospitality sector continues to expand against a backdrop of exceptional growth in religious tourism, with the Holy City attracting 6.45 million religious visitors in Q1 2025, marking an annual increase of 10.7%.

 

In the first half of 2025, Madinah posted a hotel occupancy rate of 74.7%, outpacing Saudi’s national hotel occupancy average of 63% and adding 69 new hotels, bringing the city’s total room count to 64,569 with more than 6,600 rooms added in the period. 

 

Looking ahead, more than 252,000 hotel rooms are planned or under construction in both Holy Cities, Makkah and Madinah, by 2030, much of it targeted at the high-end and luxury market to support Saudi Vision 2030. 

 

Recognised as Islam’s second holiest city, Madinah draws millions of pilgrims to landmarks such as the Prophet’s Mosque, the Quba Mosque, and Mount Uhud. 

 

For more information, visit madinahkec.com and themaisonprivee.com