The ancient Red Palace is located in the center of Riyadh, among the uncommon desert vegetation. Constructed in the 1940s for King Saud bin Abdulaziz, the reigning prince at the time, this 365,000-square-foot mansion is undergoing a painstaking conversion into an ultra-luxurious hotel.
The goal of this makeover is to provide visitors with a fully comprehensive impression of the lavish lifestyle of the Saudi monarchy.
During Saudi Arabia’s ascent to prominence in the global oil arena, the Red Palace, situated in the vibrant downtown district of Riyadh, served as the government’s headquarters. The palace is being renovated by Boutique Group, a hotel enterprise fully financed and owned by Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund, with an opening date of 2025. The hotel will have 70 rooms that maintain both the opulent lifestyle and the old architecture. Using traditional therapeutic practices from the area, the Saud family’s favorite delicacies will be served on the menu, and guests may also indulge in spa treatments. King Saud’s favorite flower, the local Taif rose, will fill the air with its aroma. The CEO of Boutique Group, Mark De Cocinis, claims that the Red Palace provides a “royal treatment” with exacting attention to detail.
This project is a part of Saudi Arabia’s larger plan to invest in tourism in order to diversify its economy away from the petroleum industry. With an eye on drawing in 150 million visitors a year, the kingdom intends to invest $800 billion in tourism over the next ten years. Over 100 million tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2023, the majority of them were citizens traveling across the nation. Drawing in foreign visitors is still difficult, particularly in light of the nation’s past transgressions against human rights. The Red Palace’s makeover is expected to increase Riyadh’s allure. Staff dressed in contemporary versions of traditional Saudi clothing will meet guests, and they may participate in on-site activities that tell the tale of the palace’s illustrious past. King Saud’s reign relics will be on display in a history room, and the spa will provide treatments with traditional elements like black seeds.
The Boutique Group works on projects other than the Red Palace. In addition, they are contemplating more projects and are turning Tuwaiq Palace in Riyadh and Al Hamra Palace in Jeddah into opulent resorts. The organization has established a close relationship with the royal family in order to guarantee the authenticity of the palace experience. Additionally, it is training local Saudi talent in partnership with Sommet Education, a Swiss hospitality educator. A new metro system will soon make the Red Palace’s position, which is near important structures like the National Museum of Saudi Arabia and Murabba Historical Palace, more accessible. Aiming to provide a distinctive fusion of history, elegance, and cultural immersion, the palace is located next to Deera Square, a site of public executions.
The Red Palace aims to become a top travel destination by 2025, providing an unmatched level of luxury that combines the magnificence of Saudi royal heritage with contemporary standards of hospitality. We are offering the location, the palace, the history, the culture, and the exclusivity of that service in Saudi Arabia, as De Cocinis puts it.