The 28 Most Anticipated Hotels of 2026 in Africa & Middle East
From the vast savannahs of Kenya to the futuristic skylines of Dubai, these new openings are set to offer a fresh perspective on place, culture, and experience across Africa and the Middle East. These 28 highly anticipated properties span remote safari lodges, ultra-luxury urban retreats, and eco-conscious island escapes.
Whether it’s a private villa on the edge of the Maasai Mara, a regenerative spa on a remote Seychelles island, or a tented camp deep in Zambia’s wilderness, these openings reflect a growing desire for meaningful, design-led, and sustainable travel. From legendary names like Six Senses and Anantara to bold independent debuts, this curated list offers an early look at the standout hotels set to shape the region’s hospitality landscape in the year ahead.
Zamara Private - Projected opening: January 2026
Great Plains Conservation’s newest camp promises a new level of luxury on the edge of the Maasai Mara Reserve. This six-suite private villa offers exclusivity for families or small groups, blending seamlessly into the landscape with natural grass roofs and Wabi Sabi-inspired design. Guests enjoy modern comforts like air conditioning, outdoor decks, and starlit showers. The villa features a spacious lounge, media and wine rooms, a spa, and a 15m infinity pool with wellness facilities. Private safari drives and unique bush breakfasts complete the ultimate Kenyan safari experience, making Zamara Private a standout destination for 2026.
The Pinnacle Kigali - Projected opening: January 2026
This ultra-luxury boutique retreat is perched on Rebero Hill with stunning views of Rwanda’s capital. With only nine suites and a maximum of 18 guests, it offers exclusivity and world-class design. Amenities include an infinity pool, private cinema, four-lane bowling alley, spa, fitness center, and courts for tennis, padel, and basketball. Dining features a teppanyaki counter and Afro-Asian fusion cuisine, paired with fine international wines. Combining modern elegance with Rwandan hospitality, The Pinnacle Kigali promises to be one of East Africa’s most exceptional luxury destinations and is led by Sheila Kyarisiima, among the rare Black female owners in Africa’s hotel industry.
The Lodge at Brookdale - Projected opening: Early 2026
Brookdale Estate in the Cape Winelands will unveil a new private lodge set on its 67-hectare wine estate in the Paarl Winelands. The Lodge at Brookdale offers an exclusive retreat for up to eight guests, featuring four elegant en-suite bedrooms and spacious living areas designed for privacy and comfort. With expansive terraces overlooking vineyards and the Drakenstein Mountains, it seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living. Guests can enjoy a contemporary kitchen, built-in barbecue, and stylish entertainment spaces. This intimate escape complements Brookdale’s reputation for luxury, nature, and authentic hospitality in South Africa’s breathtaking Cape Winelands.
Rixos Murjana - Projected opening: Q1 2026
Set along the Red Sea, Rixos Murjana, the brand’s flagship property, will be Saudi Arabia’s largest all-inclusive resort, spanning 275,000 square metres. This expansive beachfront retreat blends Hijazi-inspired architecture with modern luxury, offering 488 rooms, Maldivian-style overwater villas, and a private 600-metre beach. Guests can enjoy world-class dining across multiple venues, unwind at Anjana Spa, or dive into entertainment, waterparks, and wellness activities. With the Kingdom’s largest Rixy Kids’ Club and a dynamic Teens’ Club, it’s designed for all ages.
Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp - Projected opening: April 2026
Anantara Kafue River Tented Camp marks Anantara’s first safari tented camp and a luxurious new gateway to Zambia’s vast Kafue National Park. Elevated above the Kafue River to preserve natural flows and wildlife movement, the eco-conscious retreat features 10 villas and three treetop suites with sweeping views and seamless indoor-outdoor living, and interiors by MRS Studio blend local textures with mid-century accents. Guests can enjoy private pools, riverside dining, wellness treatments, stargazing, and tailored safaris. From lion calls to elephants by the deck, the experience immerses guests in one of Africa’s richest and most untouched ecosystems.
Hoanib Elephant Camp - Projected opening: May 2026
Natural Selection’s Hoanib Elephant Camp promises a unique blend of luxury and sustainability in Namibia’s Kaokoland. The camp features 12 spacious rooms with eco-friendly design elements like solar power, rammed earth walls, and insulated canvas roofs for natural climate control. Guests can embark on game drives to see desert-adapted black rhinos, lions, and zebras. Cultural visits to the Himba tribe and guided rhino tracking enhance the immersive experience. The camp supports vital conservation initiatives, including the Black Rhino Relocation Program and Desert-Dwelling Giraffe Conservation, helping protect endangered species and their habitats and will be their 25th camp following Nkasa Linyanti’s opening.
Nkasa Linyanti - Projected opening: May 2026
Natural Selection’s Nkasa Linyanti (the company’s 24th camp) opens in May 2026 in Namibia’s remote Nkasa Rupara National Park. The exclusive luxury camp features six under-canvas suites within a private concession, surrounded by the Linyanti and Kwando rivers and vibrant grasslands. Guests can embark on game drives and boat safaris to spot buffalo, elephants, and hippos in this pristine wilderness. Beyond luxury, the camp supports the BioBoundary Project, reducing human-elephant conflict, and Wild Shots Outreach, empowering local communities to connect with wildlife through photography. Nkasa Linyanti promises an immersive safari experience blending conservation and authentic adventure.
Wilderness Mara - Projected opening: June 2026
Wilderness Mara marks a new chapter in Wilderness’ East African journey. Formerly Little Governors, this reimagined camp is set at the base of the Oloololo Escarpment and offers prime access to Kenya’s iconic Mara Triangle. With just 12 elegant tented suites overlooking a seasonal marsh, it’s designed for couples and solo travellers seeking seclusion and immersive wildlife experiences. Guests enjoy exclusive access to both sides of the Mara River, expanding game-viewing territory while avoiding crowds. Continuing its legacy of conservation and community impact, Wilderness Mara blends luxury, sustainability, and meaningful encounters.
Tivoli La Vie Muscat Oman - Projected opening: Spring 2026
Tivoli’s 23rd hotel and first in Oman, will bring a refined Western lifestyle to Oman’s capital. Overlooking the fairways of the LA VIE Club Golf Course, the new-build features 79 elegant rooms and 100 serviced residences just minutes from Muscat International Airport. European-inspired interiors, a 230-foot rooftop pool, Anantara Spa, and SEEN rooftop restaurant offer elevated leisure, while flexible event spaces cater to business needs. Dining is central, with venues spilling out onto golf course views.
Quay 7 - Projected opening: May/June 2026
Quay 7 is set to be the newest hotel at Cape Town’s vibrant V&A Waterfront. Offering stunning, unobstructed views of the ocean and iconic Table Mountain, this 142-key hotel promises a premier experience for travelers and locals alike. In addition to elegant guest rooms, Quay 7 will feature six high-end residential units, blending luxury living with the energy of one of South Africa’s busiest hubs. Positioned in a bustling area attracting businesses, shoppers, and international tourists, Quay 7 is poised to become a standout destination at the V&A Waterfront.
Six Senses AMAALA - Projected opening: Spring / Summer 2026
Set within Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Triple Bay development, this new property blends raw natural beauty with sustainable luxury. Spanning dramatic coastal landforms along the Red Sea, the resort features 64 rooms, six suites, 30 villas, and 25 residences inspired by traditional coastal villages. Guests can explore hillside villages, beachfront homes, and mangrove-lined coves, all with panoramic views of Hijaz and Pura Coves. A secluded Six Senses Spa, family-friendly beach zones, and vibrant plazas bring AMAALA’s pillars to life.
Six Senses Dubai The Palm, Dubai - Projected opening: Spring / Summer 2026
Six Senses The Palm, Dubai marks the brand’s UAE debut with a secluded beachfront retreat on Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent. The 61-room LEED-certified hotel and 162 branded residences are inspired by the natural beauty of coral reefs, reflected in the resort’s flowing architecture and shaded, sun-protected design. Offering panoramic views of the Gulf and Dubai skyline, the property blends privacy with openness. Setting a new benchmark for sustainable luxury in Dubai, it features a 60,000-square-foot wellness and social club, Six Senses Spa, restaurants, a Majlis, and courtyards.
ENVI Addo Private Reserve - Projected opening: Summer 2026ENVI Addo Private Reserve is ENVI Lodges’ first South African property, and is set on 1,800 hectares next to Addo National Park in the Eastern Cape. Featuring 10 safari tents and three private lodges, the solar-powered retreat blends luxury with purpose, offering immersive stays that support wildlife conservation and rewilding. Owned by conservationists Gavin and Lynn Biggs, the reserve is home to rare species like serval and black-footed cats, along with cheetahs, elephants, and more. Guests enjoy bush breakfasts, open-fire cooking, wellness rituals, guided safaris, and close encounters with nature—all just 75 minutes from Gqeberha International Airport.
Fregate Island - Projected opening: Q3 2026
Sitting just four degrees south of the equator, Fregate Island is a hideaway only accessible by boat or helicopter. Featuring 17 private estates, each reimagined from the ground up, it also offers standout amenities such as a scent-triggered sensory room, a state-of-the-art regenerative spa with snow rooms, sleeping pods, floating tanks, and more. Every aspect of the redesign (it reopens in Q3 2026 after five years of transformation) is intended to honor privacy, restoration, and the wild beauty that makes the island home to over 3,500 Aldabra giant tortoises, and the once-endangered Magpie Robin, which Fregate brought back from the brink of extinction.
The Malkai - Projected opening: Fall 2026
Launching in autumn 2026, The Malkai is a groundbreaking, family-owned hospitality concept that redefines experiential luxury in Oman. Founded by the family behind The Chedi Muscat, this immersive journey spans three breathtaking landscapes: the coastal farmlands of Barkaa, the rugged Al Hajar mountains, and the desert dunes of Sharqiyah Sands. Each of the three locations features 15 luxurious tented Pavilion suites, inspired by traditional Bedouin design. Guests travel between sites with a personal Murshid guide in fully equipped Land Rover Defenders, exclusively designed in partnership with The Malkai. Rooted in Omani heritage and sustainability, The Malkai blends adventure, culture, wellness, and farm-to-fork dining into a deeply meaningful escape.
Singita Elela - Projected opening: Q4 2026
Singita Elela opens in Botswana’s Okavango Delta in late 2026, extending Singita’s century-long commitment to conservation and authentic safari experiences and marking the company’s 18th camp. Named “to flow” in Setswana, Elela’s design reflects the Delta’s seasonal rhythms, immersing guests in its rich biodiversity. Situated within a vast 170,000-hectare private concession, the lodge offers exclusive access to shifting landscapes, from lagoons and waterways to islands and grasslands. Singita Elela promises an intimate connection to this dynamic ecosystem while delivering exceptional accommodations and service, making it a standout new destination for safari lovers seeking both luxury and environmental harmony.
Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley - Projected opening: Q4 2026
Marking the brand’s entry into the heart of Riyadh, Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley will debut in the heart of Saudi Arabia’s capital. Located in the prestigious Laysen Valley development, the 170-key hotel will cater to both local and international guests and introduce bold design and exceptional hospitality. Amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, boutique spa, meeting facilities, two dining outlets, and a stylish lobby lounge.
Zulu Camp at Shambala Private Game Reserve - Projected opening: Q4 2026
Within Shambala Private Game Reserve, home to The Nelson Mandela Villa, the newly rebuilt Zulu Camp is set to open after a stunning redesign. Set on 25,000 acres, just hours from Johannesburg, the camp offers intimate Big 5 encounters. Along with eight chalets inspired by local trees, each with a private butler and river views, there will be a revamped double-story public areas feature a bar, dining, library, and game room. Guests can enjoy tailored game drives and sunset cruises on South Africa’s largest manmade lake, Douw Steyn Dam, for an unforgettable wilderness experience.
InterContinental Dubai The Heart of Europe - Projected opening: Winter 2026
InterContinental Resort Portofino, The Heart of Europe will be a standout beachfront escape on Dubai’s World Islands. Set within a self-sufficient six-island destination, the 466-key resort blends Italian Riviera charm with modern luxury and sustainability. Guests can expect full sea-view rooms, authentic Italian dining, and an atrium with floor-to-ceiling aquariums linked to the Coral Institute’s marine conservation efforts. The resort also features a rooftop garden with skyline views, eco-conscious design, and family-friendly spaces like the Kingdom of Portofino with a kids club, theatre, and water park, making it an immersive, inclusive retreat on the Arabian Gulf.
Kimpton Dubai - Projected opening: Winter 2026
Kimpton Dubai will bring the brand’s signature style and social energy to the city’s dynamic Business Bay district. Overlooking the Dubai Water Canal and minutes from Burj Khalifa, the 20-story hotel will feature 280 design-forward rooms and suites, a rooftop pool, spa, fitness center, curated retail, and seven flexible event spaces. Three distinct dining concepts will anchor the property as lively culinary and social hubs. Marking Kimpton’s debut in the UAE, the hotel blends bold design with heartfelt hospitality, offering a vibrant escape for both travelers and locals in one of Dubai’s most sought-after neighborhoods.
Waldorf Astoria River Nile Experience - Projected opening: Late 2026
Launching in late 2026, the Waldorf Astoria Nile River Experience will redefine luxury travel on Egypt’s famed NIle River. This exclusive journey along the Nile offers four- and six-night itineraries between Luxor and Aswan, aboard a five-deck vessel featuring 29 elegant suites. Guests will enjoy world-class amenities, including a spa, fitness center, and exceptional dining, including a rooftop deck. With private docks, curated excursions, and personal concierge service, the experience combines timeless elegance with immersive cultural exploration along one of the world’s most historic rivers.
The Oberoi, Wadi Safar - Projected opening: late 2026
Perched atop a striking 70-meter escarpment, The Oberoi, Wadi Safar spans an impressive 150,000 square meters. The resort features 60 luxurious standalone villas, many with private pools and gardens, and dining options include a signature Indian restaurant by Michelin-starred Chef Rohit Ghai. The spa boasts hammams, gender-separated indoor pools, and a 65-meter infinity pool with sunset views. Additional amenities include a gym, kids club, library, and ballroom. Designed by Aedas and Blink, the property also features 10 exclusive branded residences inspired by traditional Najdi architecture and set in lush surroundings.
JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp - Projected opening: 2026
Set to open within the renowned Solio Game Reserve, the JW Marriott Mount Kenya Rhino Reserve Safari Camp promises a luxurious, nature-immersive escape. Located between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Mountains, the camp will feature 20 upscale tented units, each with a private plunge pool. Guests can expect curated wellness spaces, a Spa by JW, four dining venues., including a sky deck, and unique experiences like horse-riding safaris, quad biking, and visits to a rhino orphanage. Positioned within a leading rhino conservancy, the camp offers rare encounters with black and white rhinos, alongside leopards, cheetahs, and other wildlife.
Erebero Hills, Bwindi - Projected opening: 2026
Erebero Hills Lodge by Asilia Africa is set on 45 acres of reforested land at the northern edge of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to over half the world’s mountain gorillas. This eco-friendly lodge features eight luxury suites with private decks, outdoor showers, and stunning forest views. Designed by Pablo Luna Studios, it blends natural materials and local craftsmanship. Guests can enjoy gorilla trekking, forest hikes, and cultural visits to the Batwa community. Part of a reforestation and conservation project, Erebero Hills supports wildlife habitat expansion and local livelihoods, promising an immersive and sustainable safari experience.
Zulu Camp at Shambala Private Game Reserve - Projected opening: 2026
Within Shambala Private Game Reserve, home to The Nelson Mandela Villa, the newly rebuilt Zulu Camp is set to open after a stunning redesign. Set on 25,000 acres, just hours from Johannesburg, the camp offers intimate Big 5 encounters. Designer Cate Simpson blends luxury with nature, creating eight chalets inspired by local trees, each with a private butler and river views. The revamped double-story public areas feature a bar, dining, library, and game room, showcasing local art honoring Zulu culture. Guests can enjoy tailored game drives and sunset cruises on South Africa’s largest manmade lake, Douw Steyn Dam, for an unforgettable wilderness experience.
The properties listed below are confirmed to open in 2026; however, no images or renderings have been provided at this time.
Regent Jeddah Corniche - Projected opening: Winter 2026
Set along the city’s prestigious Corniche with sweeping views of the Red Sea and Formula 1 racetrack, Regent Jeddah will mark the brand’s Middle East debut. Spanning 29 stories, the hotel will offer 182 rooms and five opulent penthouses, all showcasing refined design and beachfront elegance. Guests can unwind in a 1,500 sqm spa by Raison d’Etre, enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, or energize in a 200 sqm health club. With three signature dining venues and elevated service, Regent Jeddah promises unmatched luxury for discerning travelers and corporate elites seeking sophisticated hospitality on Saudi Arabia’s vibrant coast.
Tivoli Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain - Projected opening: 2026
Tivoli Bilaj Al Jazayer Bahrain Resort is set along Bahrain’s southwest coast, offering a refined escape within the vibrant Bilaj Al Jazayer waterfront development. Just minutes from Manama and cultural landmarks, the resort features 100 elegant rooms and suites, many with sea views, blending Arabian warmth with modern sophistication. Guests can enjoy two restaurants, a café, rooftop pool bar, and a stylish indoor-outdoor shisha lounge. The resort also offers a rooftop pool, beach club access, a fitness center, and the serene Tivoli Spa.
