LONDON – The Middle East/Africa hotel development pipeline includes 442 hotels comprising 120,589 rooms, according to the September 2009 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report released this week.

The United Arab Emirates reported 57,126 rooms in the total active pipeline, the largest amount of any country in the region. Saudi Arabia also accounted for a large portion with 10,986 rooms. Two other countries reported more than 5,000 rooms in the total active pipeline: Morocco (5,924) and Qatar (5,408).

Among the Chain Scale segments, three accounted for more than 20 percent of rooms in the total active pipeline. The Unaffiliated segment made up 25.2 percent (30,387 rooms), the largest portion of the total active pipeline. The Luxury segment accounted for 24.6 percent (29,646 rooms). The Upscale segment reported 25,940 rooms for 21.5 percent of the total active pipeline. The Midscale without Food and Beverage segment accounted for the smallest portion of the total active pipeline: 1.3 percent and 1,558 rooms.

Middle East/Africa pipeline by Chain Scale segment for September 2009 (number of rooms)

* Includes those projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning phases.

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