Rotana announces the opening of Al Manakha Rotana in Madinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

With a landmark location in the centre of the holy city of Madinah, Al Manakha Rotana aims to serve travellers seeking a unique cultural experience, as well as the millions of pilgrims who partake in the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Madinah, home to Islam’s second holiest shrine, the Prophet’s Mosque.

Commenting on the announcement, Philip Barnes, CEO of Rotana, said: “We’re thrilled to inaugurate the new Al Manakha Rotana in the historic city of Madinah. Religious tourism remains a key pillar of Saudi’s economy and plays a vital role in supporting the Kingdom’s growth strategy. Marking our tenth property opening in Saudi Arabia is a proud milestone for Rotana, reinforcing our commitment to the country and serving all travellers to the holy city.”

Situated in front of Islam’s second-holiest shrine, the Prophet’s Mosque, and surrounded by vibrant shops and cafes, as well as iconic historical sites such as Omar bin Khattab Mosque and Al Ghamamah, the four-star Al Manakha Rotana offers a haven of comfort and convenience for pilgrims and travellers alike.

Each of the hotel’s 512 rooms and suites is thoughtfully designed and equipped with modern fittings and furnishings. Many of the rooms also offer uplifting views of Madinah’s most sacred site, the Prophet’s Mosque, adding a touch of serenity to every stay. For guests looking to maintain their fitness, a fully equipped gym with sweeping vistas over the holy city’s landmarks is located on the 12^th floor. To ensure a comfortable and inclusive environment, specific timings are allocated for male and female guests.

In addition, the property offers four distinctive dining venues, including two all-day dining restaurants with a diverse selection of local and international dishes catering to regional and global tastes. For guests seeking a more laid-back option, a lobby café and a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking the cityscape serve a tempting array of international cuisine to satisfy guests during their stay.

Al Manakha Rotana’s opening aligns with Rotana’s ambitious goal of launching eight properties in KSA over the next four years, bringing the total key count to more than 4,400 across 18 properties.

Other KSA openings in the pipeline include four Edge by Rotana and one Rayhaan by Rotana in Riyadh, and three properties in Al Baha, all set to open by 2028.

Rotana’s portfolio currently spans 20,088 keys and six superlative brands, including an impressive 2,828 keys across ten hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

On Saturday 8^th June, World Oceans Day marks the third anniversary of Atlantis Dubai’s pioneering sustainability initiative, Atlantis Atlas Project. As part of celebrating all the milestones achieved, the destination is proud to announce a partnership with UAE-based Seafood Souq that commenced last year. The organisation focuses on establishing transparency in the seafood supply chain – the first of its kind in the region – by tracking every stage from sea to serving. This tracking offers deeper insights into where and how each seafood item is sourced across all restaurants at Atlantis Dubai, ensuring all global and local suppliers provide adequate information.

Seafood Souq was one of the 2022-23 awardees of the Atlantis Atlas Project 1 USD contribution programme, which strategically selects initiatives that support conservation and sustainability. For every marine animal experience participated in by a guest, Atlantis Dubai contributes $1 USD into local and international conservation and sustainability projects every year; the 1 USD contribution programme has raised over a quarter of a million dollars to date. Seafood Souq used the awarded funds to develop its SFS Trace* technology in partnership with Atlantis Dubai, resulting in a digital impact dashboard that captures traceability data and insights across all seafood procurement for the destination.  

Seafood Souq’s Trace technology and impact dashboard was implemented at Atlantis Dubai in August 2023, with an audit taking place every quarter to ensure that all suppliers are onboarded and provide the required data into the platform. The audits provide an in-depth review of the destination’s procurement impact, empowering management with information to drive and achieve positive change. In December 2023, 68.7% of total seafood items across Atlantis, The Palm and Atlantis The Royal were traceable, reaching 90% by March 2024. The goal is to achieve 100% application of traceability technology across all seafood products served within the destination, which Atlantis Dubai aims to achieve by December 2024, ensuring that all suppliers disclose information and obtain adequate documentation.

Visibility is just the first step for Atlantis Dubai to continue making environmentally impactful decisions in the future. In the short term, this means the destination can choose to work with more responsible suppliers, and in the long term, guests will be able to discover a seafood’s traceability score by scanning a QR code in each restaurant. 

Fahim Al Qasimi, Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson, Seafood Souq, commented: “We are proud to partner with Atlantis on this pioneering initiative, a first for the region. Traceability of seafood supply chains is crucial for food safety and ocean protection. Atlantis and Seafood Souq share common values in sustainability, in line with Dubai’s sustainable tourism targets and the UAE’s commitments to the global community. As a UAE technology company, we are excited to bring our innovation from the region to the world.” 

The implementation of Seafood Souq’s Trace technology is just one of the many examples driven by Atlantis Atlas Project. Over the past 12 months, ongoing green projects and newly introduced initiatives continued to result in significant change and help support Atlantis Dubai’s commitment. Some of the key achievements during the last year include:
• Solar panels installed in 2023 have resulted in 767 tonnes of CO2 savings, which is equivalent to the carbon sequestration of 15,435 trees.
• The Winnow food waste technology installed at all buffet restaurants has reduced an estimated 40% of edible food waste.
• Recycling bins were placed in all 1,544 rooms and suites at Atlantis, The Palm to further segregate waste at source.
• Atlantis, The Palm replaced single use plastic amenities with refillable pump bottles in guest rooms, annually diverting 3 million plastic tubes from landfills.
• The destination has eliminated over 2.6 million single-use plastic water bottles, replacing them with glass refillable bottles.
• Five new school programmes were introduced at The Lost Chambers Aquarium to increase education opportunities, exceeding 2022 attendance by 253% in 2023.
• Atlantis Dubai became the first Resort Destination in the Eastern Hemisphere to earn the IBCCES Certified Autism Center™ Designation, prioritising guest experience and enhancing accessibility for autistic and sensory-sensitive guests.
• A soap recycling programme launched through UNISOAP UAE has collected 70.7kg of discarded soap across both properties.

Kelly Timmins, Director of Marine Animal Operations and Sustainability, Atlantis Dubai, commented: “At Atlantis Dubai, as we are home to 65,000 marine animals, one of our key sustainability pillars focuses on marine conservation. Through the collaborative efforts of our Procurement and Culinary teams, together with Seafood Souq, we are proud to have developed this innovative SFS Trace system. This is the first step in our sustainable seafood journey, which now enables us to make more responsible choices. We look forward to continually improving as part of our commitment to do business in ways that are good for both people and the planet.” 

To celebrate the three-year achievements of Atlantis Atlas Project, for every marine animal experience participated in by a guest on World Oceans Day, Saturday 8^th June, as well as Sunday 9^th June, Atlantis Dubai will double its $1 USD contribution on the day to support future projects that make measured impacts on conservation, education and society.

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach is proud to announce its partnership with the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Network, reaffirming its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for all guests. This collaboration aims to drive awareness and support for People of Determination with hidden disabilities, ensuring that every guest feels welcomed and accommodated.

As a luxury resort renowned for its unparalleled service, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach recognizes the importance of creating an inclusive environment where every guest can fully enjoy their vacation experience. By joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Network, the resort demonstrates its dedication to going above and beyond to meet the needs of all guests as well as continuing to prioritize accessibility by providing extensive high-level training to its employees. This training will equip staff members with the knowledge and skills necessary to support guests with hidden disabilities, ensuring they enjoy a comfortable and memorable stay.

“We are thrilled to join the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Network and further our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility,” said John Halliday, Hotel Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach. “At our resort, we believe that every guest should feel valued and respected, and we are dedicated to ensuring that individuals with hidden disabilities receive the support they need to enjoy a truly memorable vacation experience.”

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool to voluntarily share that a person has a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent – and that they may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time in hotels, leisure and entertainment assets, shops, at work, or in public spaces.

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Hamra Beach invites guests to experience luxury hospitality in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Whether guests require assistance or simply seek a supportive and understanding atmosphere, the resort remains committed to providing the highest level of service to all.