by Donald Wood
Last updated: 4:00 PM ET, Mon May 18, 2015
Image via Twitter
Staying in the lap of luxury is the goal for many travelers, but those on pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia will soon have a new hotel option as Abraj Kudai - set to become the world's largest hotel complex - is scheduled to be completed in 2017.
According to Aidan Imanova of ArabianBusiness.com, designer Dar Al Handasah developed the Abraj Kudai project to create an iconic landmark in the Manafia area of Mecca's central zone.
The giant complex of buildings will feature 12 towers that will house 10,000 total rooms and cost an estimated $3.5 billion. The buildings will sit on 1.4 million square meters, and they will feature 70 restaurants, rooftop helipads, entire floors dedicated to royalty, and a full-size convention center.
Add in the fact that one of the tallest tower in the design will be adorned with one of the largest domes in the world, and the building will be an homage to the sacred land upon which the construction project is taking place.
While the exterior of the buildings will be of staggering scope, the interiors must be just as elite. In order to ensure the project meets the high standards, London-based hotel design company Areen Hospitality has been hired to design the interiors.
When asked about the tall task by Imanova, Areen Hospitality head of design, Andrew Lindwood, said, "We are honored to be trusted with such a challenge. Designing hotel interiors on such a massive scale, with no operators yet in place, requires complex programming and design resourcing. At Areen Hospitality we allow for this and have the experience to respond to such a challenge, without ever losing the creative essence needed to welcome and surprise the guests expected at Abraj Kudai."
As for the luxury of the hotels, ten of the 12 towers will be rated as four-star establishments. The other two towers will be even more prestigious and provide five-star accommodations for guests visiting Abraj Kudai.
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