LONDON: The Jabal Omar Company for Development has signed a major agreement with three major international hotel groups for the management and operation of 12 of its 37 hotel towers close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah. The signing Tuesday took place in the presence of Prince Mohammed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom. The contracts were signed by Abdulrahman Abdulqadir Fakieh, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jabal Omar Company, with representatives from the Hilton, Marriot and Al-Hayat. The signing ceremony was also attended by Dr. Ali Bin Nasser Al-Ghufais, Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). Addressing the ceremony, Prince Mohammed said the agreement would ensure best services and facilities for Umrah and Haj pilgrims. He said the government also wants to see more private sector involvement in the industry, to boost development and create jobs for the youth. In a press statement following the signing ceremony, Al-Ghufais said the TVTC has signed a strategic partnership with Jabal Omar Company to provide training and create jobs for Saudis. The Jabal Omar project overlooks the Grand Mosque. The project is on an area of 230,000 sq. meters. Investments in the project total $5.5 billion.
