The lobbies of the top hotels in Riyadh were crowded on Sundays with executives pushing black carry-ons through King Khalid International Airport long before Saudi Arabia opened to foreign travel. On Thursdays before the weekend, the lobbies were empty once more.
However, that image has quickly changed since then. The hotel industry in Riyadh is changing concurrently with its growth. In response to growing demand from leisure travellers, event attendees, and a new generation of residents, a wave of international luxury and lifestyle brands is opening throughout the capital, while long-standing properties are reinventing themselves.
Travellers have an abundance of options these days, from updated mainstays in central Olaya to cutting-edge newcomers emerging in the city’s northern districts and along its growing cultural corridors. Here are some places to stay right now.
Top Luxury Hotels in Riyadh for 2026
1. Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Diriyah
The first establishment in the renovated ancient district of Diryah on the outskirts of Riyadh is Marriott’s Bab Samhan. Bujairi Terrace, Diriyah’s popular restaurant sector, is just a short stroll away, making it the ideal place to explore this quickly growing neighbourhood. Bab Samhan’s interiors, which are housed in rooms that resemble the region’s traditional mud-brick buildings and palm-strewn roofs, combine the old and the new. Wide skylight windows let in an abundance of natural light, while geometric patterns and dark accents create a feeling of place. Channels of water gently bubbling beside the hotel’s pathways add to the property’s attractiveness as a haven of comforts, and afternoon tea in the hotel’s inner courtyard is a soft-cushioned, breezy occasion.
2. The St. Regis Riyadh
The St Regis Riyadh is the only hotel inside Via Riyadh, a bijou mall of upscale stores, carefully chosen eateries, and a movie theatre surrounded by imposing sandstone walls at the edge of the Saudi capital’s Diplomatic Quarter. It pays homage to both the hotel brand’s New York roots and its new Saudi location. There’s the famous Bloody Mary, which has been made alcohol-free in accordance with the kingdom’s regulations; round-the-clock customised butler service; and the Greek American menu at Jackie restaurant, which was inspired by the former first lady of the same name. The glittering mother-of-pearl adorning the doors in the 2,421-square-foot Royal Suite, one of just 83 rooms and suites, the gold-lined tea cups, and the cosy majlis-like nooks within the hotel’s wide hallways and lobby areas all have a more regional feel to them.The spa is a 13,437-square-foot haven of experienced hands, undulating dune-like walls, and contrasting textures. The 400 Journey, a 150-minute flagship treatment from the upscale UK beauty company Amr, is named after Caroline Astor’s turn-of-the-century New York social set. It leaves you with dazzling gold-flecked skin and muscles relaxed by a 24-karat-gold hot stone massage.an. One could anticipate that the snow shower would feel like sleet on a gloomy day, but it is invigorating and revitalising. As night falls, a DJ performs for a shisha-smoking audience upstairs at Stella Sky Lounge, which is situated on the third level next to a small, heated pool.
3. Mansard Riyadh, a Radisson Collection Hotel
Mansard Riyadh honours Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, the visionary behind 19th-century Paris, with its French Renaissance front and sloping gambrel-style roofs. Under Napoleon III, Haussmann added 40,000 new structures to the City of Lights, permanently altering the appearance of the French capital. His classic style is the perfect inspiration for one of the newest luxury hotels in the rapidly evolving metropolis. Inside, some of the most talked-about restaurants in the city are situated above stylish rooms with beautiful cornice moulding and brushed parquet flooring.Savour New York imports like Sadelle’s, a trendy temple to all-American all-day dining, and Carbone, a long-time celebrity hangout known for its honest takes on Italian classics. L’Ami Dave, a rapidly rising favourite, offers modern takes on French classics like escargot and àte de boeuf. The hotel is located on Prince Mohammed Ibn Salman Road, just ten minutes from the luxury restaurants and shiny towers of King Abdullah Financial District. The hotel’s front is lined by a strip of Parisian-inspired stores, from locally produced chocolatiers to artisan perfume ateliers, in classic Haussmann style.
4. Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre
Your best option for a stay anywhere in Saudi Arabia is to combine the most iconic landmark in Riyadh with the reliable service of a well-known Four Seasons. Cristiano Ronaldo, a football player, actually lived here when he first came to the city. From the middle of the lengthy King Fahd Road, which runs across the city from south to north, rises Kingdom Center, also known as Kingdom Tower, like a wide, glossy needle. The Four Seasons, which opened in 2003, and a high-end shopping center are located within the 99-story tower.A complete makeover of the rooms and suites has resulted in a more contemporary, lighter design with a few decorative elements influenced by Saudi Arabia. You will feel as though you have actually reached the center of the kingdom when you look out from any of the rooms on the 30th through 50th floors over the wide stretch of King Fahd Road in both directions.
5. Kimpton KAFD Riyadh by IHG
With modern art installations, sculptural furniture, and whimsical design elements strewn throughout its 16 floors, the first hotel in King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) places you in the center of Riyadh’s most glamorous area. It features a Canary Wharf-style cluster of gleaming glass-and-steel towers, fine dining options, and a striking Zaha Hadid-designed Metro station. One of the most inventive menus in the capital is created on the first floor of Botanica by Neapolitan chef Michele De Bonito, who takes the flavours of his native Italy and applies them through a Khaleeji lens. In the back, a resort-style pool is situated between whitewashed loungers and shaded wooden cabanas; the only indication that you are still in Riyadh is the King Fahd Road signs that protrude above the walls.
6. Sofitel Riyadh Hotel & Convention Centre
For months, the arching, steel-clad shape of the Sofitel has dominated Riyadh’s skyline. Now, the wait is over. With four restaurants, a cutting-edge spa with four indoor pools, and tastefully decorated apartments that open onto spacious patios with views of the city, the recently opened hotel offers a refined dose of French luxury to the capital. Another aspect of the attractiveness is location. Located in the heart of the Ar Rahmaniyyah district, the hotel is conveniently close to business centers, restaurants, and retail establishments. It takes around five minutes by taxi from Kingdom Tower and ten minutes from Olaya.
7. Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh
Under the Mandarin Oriental brand, the Al Faisaliah Hotel, located at the base of another landmark in Olaya, is progressively changing. When the Foster + Partners-designed Al Faisaliah Centre was completed in 2000, it included Saudi Arabia’s first tower. Hotel visitors can climb to its observing glass globe for free. Make sure to reserve one of the recently remodelled rooms with Juliette balconies; the light-grey interiors feature high-tech features like heated toilet seats and automatic curtains, making them more modern than the former dark-wood design.But this hotel’s location is what truly makes it unique. A few well-known eateries, including Mamo Michelangelo (Italian), Meraki (Greek), and LPM (French), are located right outside. Whether you choose to explore the upscale shopping centers or some of the older neighbourhood alleyways, the region near Tahlia Street is among the most walkable in the city.
8. Fairmont Riyadh
Fairmont Riyadh, which has always been well-liked by business travellers due to its proximity to King Khalid International Airport and the Business Gate campus, has recently raised the bar with the introduction of a lavish afternoon tea in collaboration with British fragrance company Jo Malone and an elegant spa makeover. The triple-height indoor pool complex is flooded with natural light, and its slate brick walls and soft timber panelling create a serene atmosphere that is further enhanced by holistic therapies that are worth seeing on their own.The hotel continues to be a top choice for its dependable rooms, beautifully landscaped gardens, and excellent dining options—don’t miss the House of Grill, a moody steak spot run by Nicolas Isnard, the French chef behind the Michelin-starred L’Auberge de la Charme in Paris—even though the majority of guests are here to get down to business (Gold-level suites even come with complimentary boardroom access). Although the Fairmont is located in a more sedate area of the city, it is nonetheless conveniently close to well-known areas like Al Masif and the King Abdullah Financial District. Additionally, because of its close proximity to the airport, you can avoid the slow traffic on Olaya Street and arrive quickly after your flight.
9. JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh
The hotel, which launched as a Kempinski in 2015 and is now a JW Marriott, is located in one of Riyadh’s tallest structures. The hotel’s signature JW Steakhouse and Casa Cacao, the first international chocolate shop owned by Spanish pastry chef Jordi Roca, are now available as dining alternatives. The Spa by JW features an outdoor pool and distinct wellness spaces for men and women. Similar to Kingdom Centre, but located further north on King Fahd Road, where the city’s newer areas are growing, the sleek rooms offer expansive city views.
10. The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
Nothing compares to Riyadh’s renowned Ritz-Carlton for classic luxury, with its intricate wall mosaics, frescoed ceilings, and Romanesque arches. Since its opening in 2011, the hotel has welcomed a number of distinguished visitors, including former US President Donald Trump. Juliette balconies framed by draperies provide views of beautifully landscaped gardens from classically furnished rooms. The ground floor’s main attraction, an ornate indoor pool area, is visible from the Italian restaurant Azzurro. A six-lane bowling alley and a courtyard with a 600-year-old olive tree are two other distinctive features. The Diplomatic Quarter and Laysen Valley, Riyadh’s newest dining district, are both adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton, which is tucked away on its vast grounds.
11. Jareed Hotel
The Jareed Hotel should have been greeted with trumpets because boutique hotels are uncommon in the Saudi capital. However, this little gem of a design hotel has remained Riyadh’s best-kept secret since Saudi brand NMR Hospitality discreetly opened it in 2022. With screened private patios, framed botanical pictures over the soaking tub, and Assouline volumes on the bureau, the rooms feel more like chic apartments. However, it doesn’t cut corners when it comes to five-star extras like Hermès toiletries and a pillow menu.Its Art Deco-inspired entrance is located in the heart of The Boulevard, a cluster of boutiques, cafes, and bistros in the hip Hittin neighbourhood of Riyadh. The hotel features a restaurant and spa of its own, and the chic Living Room may be used for co-working or informal dining. This hotel is the only one in Riyadh that deserves to be named home.