AHEAD MEA 2026 shortlist revealed

After receiving entries from Saudi Arabia to South Africa, the AHEAD MEA judging panel has finalised the 2026 shortlist.

Comprising the most compelling new hospitality ventures from across the region, the 32 finalists will now go head-to-head in 15 categories.

The winners will be announced at at AHEAD MEA 2026, returning to Bluewaters Forum Dubai on Monday 2 November. Tickets are available now.

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Bar, Club or Lounge

N53 Cigar Lounge at One&Only One Za’aabeel – Dubai, UAE
Ithra Dubai / Kerzner International / Bergman Design House 

Netsu Bar at Mandarin Oriental – Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
Wasl Asset Management Group / Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group / LW Design Group 

Saikindō at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi – Al Maryah Island, UAE
Mubadala / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Cundall / AvroKO 

Tattu Sky Lounge & Terrace at Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG – Dubai, UAE
The First Group / Permanently Unique Group / InterContinental Hotels Group / Studio WYZE 

Event Spaces 

Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG – Dubai, UAE
The First Group / InterContinental Hotels Group / Norr 

Sofitel – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation / Accor / Saudi Diyar Consultants 

The Red Sea Edition – Hanak, Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Marriott International / Foster + Partners / Rockwell Group 

Tivoli La Vie – Muscat, Oman
Oman Real Estate & Investment / Ominvest / Minor International / 10 Design / Design Unit Engineering / Studio Epilogue / Rchitect Atelier 

Guestrooms

Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG – Dubai, UAE 
The First Group / InterContinental Hotels Group / Norr 

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Amaala at Triple Bay – Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / U+A / Goddard Littlefair 

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Red Sea at Shura Island – Hanak, Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Kingdom Holding Company / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Foster + Partners / Meyer Davis 

Raffles – Jeddah, Saudia Arabia
Erth Real Estate / Accor / DSA Architects International / Robert Angell Design International 

Hotel Conversion

Al Bait Al Sharqi – Muscat, Oman 
Al Hajar Mountains Hotels & Resorts / Jibal Al Hajar 

The Chedi Hegra – AlUla, Saudi Arabia 
Royal Commission for AlUla / Chedi Hospitality / Giò Forma 

The Red Palace – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 
Boutique Group / Tristan Auer 

Zaria Court Kigali, Tapestry Collection by Hilton – Kigali, Rwanda 
UCR Kigali Company / Aleph Hospitality / Hilton Worldwide / NLÉ / Design Partnership  

Hotel Newbuild

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Amaala at Triple Bay – Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / U+A / Goddard Littlefair 

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Red Sea at Shura Island – Hanak, Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Kingdom Holding Company / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Foster + Partners / Meyer Davis / AvroKO / EDSA Landscape Architects 

Morea House – Cape Town, South Africa 
Marriott International / Scott + Partners / Tristan Du Plessis Studio 

The Red Sea Edition – Hanak, Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Marriott International / Foster + Partners / Rockwell Group 

Hotel Renovation 

Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita – Beau Champ, Mauritius 
Riveo Hospitality / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / 1508 London / WATG / Elastic Architects  

InterContinental Table Bay – Cape Town, South Africa 
V&A Waterfront / Sun International / InterContinental Hotels Group / LW Design Group 

Pullman Dubai Jumeirah Lakes Towers – Dubai, UAE 
Accor / DZ Design 

SO/ – Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Ministry of Presidential Affairs / Ennismore / Accor / SSH / Kristina Zanic Consultants 

Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces 

&Beyond Suyian Lodge – Laikipia, Kenya 
andBeyond / Nicholas Plewman Architects & Associates / Michaelis Boyd Associates / Fox Browne Creative / Tufaha Africa 

Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG – Dubai, UAE 
The First Group / InterContinental Hotels Group / Norr 

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Red Sea at Shura Island – Hanak, Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Kingdom Holding Company / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Foster + Partners / EDSA Landscape Architects 

Lobby

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Amaala at Triple Bay – Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / U+A / Goddard Littlefair 

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Red Sea at Shura Island – Hanak, Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Foster + Partners / Meyer Davis 

InterContinental Table Bay – Cape Town, South Africa 
V&A Waterfront / Sun International / InterContinental Hotels Group / LW Design Group 

InterContinental The Red Sea Resort – Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / InterContinental Hotels Group / Foster + Partners / Kristina Zanic Consultants

Lodges, Cabins & Tented Camps 

&Beyond Suyian Lodge – Laikipia, Kenya 
andBeyond Travel / Nicholas Plewman Architects / Michaelis Boyd / Fox Browne Creative / Tufaha Africa 

Baines’ Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary – Okavango Delta, Botswana 
Abercrombie & Kent / Luxury Frontiers 

Gorilla Forest Lodge, an A&K Sanctuary – Bwindi National Park, Uganda 
Abercrombie & Kent / Luxury Frontiers 

Kalahari Dunes – Upington, South Africa 
Kalahari Dunes Private Game Reserve / ARRCC / SAOTA 

Sediba Sa Rona – Okavango Delta, Botswana 
Savanna Expeditions / Desert & Delta Safaris / Jack Alexander Studio / Maison & Sage / Dakota Design 

Resort

InterContinental The Red Sea Resort – Saudi Arabia 
Red Sea Global / InterContinental Hotels Group / Foster + Partners / Kristina Zanic Consultants 

Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab – Dubai, UAE
Dubai Holding / Jumeirah Group / Killa Design / HBA / LTW Designworks / AvroKO / Tristan Auer 

The Red Sea Edition – Saudi Arabia
Red Sea Global / Marriott International / Foster + Partners / Rockwell Group 

The St Regis Le Morne Resort – Mauritius
ABKID / Marriott International / dsgn 

Restaurant

Amura by Ángel León at Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel – Cape Town, South Africa
Belmond / Tristan du Plessis Studio 

Angara at Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita – Beau Champ, Mauritius 
Riveo Hospitality / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Elastic Architects 

Canopy at The Ritz-Carlton, Masai Mara Safari Camp – Kenya
Lazizi Mara / Marriot International / LW Design Group 

Tattu Restaurant & Bar at Ciel Dubai Marina, Vignette Collection by IHG – Dubai, UAE
The First Group / Permanently Unique Group / InterContinental Hotels Group / Studio WYZE 

Spa & Wellness

Hyliaa Wellness at Four Seasons Resort & Residences Amaala at Triple Bay – Saudi Arabia
Red Sea Global / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / U+A / Goddard Littlefair 

Mombo Sanctuary at Wilderness Mombo Camp – Okavango Delta, Botswana
Wilderness / Black Sable Designs / Artichoke Interior Design 

The Spa at Four Seasons Resort & Residences Red Sea at Shura Island – Hanak, Saudi Arabia
Red Sea Global / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / Foster + Partners / Meyer Davis / AvroKO / EDSA Landscape Architects 

Talise Spa at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab – Dubai, UAE
Dubai Holding / Jumeirah Group / Killa Design / LTW Designworks 

Suite

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Amaala at Triple Bay – Saudi Arabia
Red Sea Global / Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts / U+A / Goddard Littlefair 

InterContinental Table Bay – Cape Town, South Africa 
V&A Waterfront / Sun International / InterContinental Hotels Group / LW Design Group  

InterContinental The Red Sea Resort – Saudi Arabia
Red Sea Global / InterContinental Hotels Group / Foster + Partners / Kristina Zanic Consultants 

W Riyadh – KAFD – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
KAFD / Marriott International / Goettsch Partners / LW Design Group 

Sustainability

The Chedi Hegra – AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Royal Commission for AlUla / Chedi Hospitality / Giò Forma 

InterContinental The Red Sea Resort – Saudi Arabia
Red Sea Global / InterContinental Hotels Group / Foster + Partners / Kristina Zanic Consultants 

Sediba Sa Rona – Khwai, Botswana
Savanna Expeditions / Desert & Delta Safaris / Jack Alexander Studio / Maison & Sage / Dakota Design 

Silverback Lodge – Buhoma, Uganda
Marasa Africa / HesseKleinloog Studio