At a Glance
- Accor, Mayan expand Africa hotel portfolio with five new properties and 1,100 rooms.
- UAE-backed investment boosts Sub-Saharan Africa tourism growth and hotel development pipeline.
- Accor strengthens Africa’s hospitality footprint with sustainable projects in emerging high-demand markets.
Accor, one of the world’s leading hospitality groups, has entered a master development agreement with Mayan Properties, a unit of Resources Investment, to deepen its footprint across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The deal highlights renewed investor interest in the region’s tourism sector and reflects the growing role of UAE-backed capital in African hospitality projects.
Five new hotels planned
Under the agreement, Accor and Mayan will develop five hotels that together bring more than 1,100 rooms to the region. The partnership follows recent signings, including the Novotel Nouakchott in Mauritania, a 154-room new-build, and the Mövenpick Moroni in Comoros, a 159-room conversion.
Four additional properties are set to follow in priority markets that cater to both business and leisure travel.
The companies say the collaboration supports local economies by creating jobs, increasing tourism activity and drawing long-term investment into countries that are working to grow their hospitality industries.
Accor’s global operating experience and broad brand portfolio, combined with Mayan’s investment reach, give the partnership a foundation to scale across markets where quality hotel supply remains limited.
Focus on sustainable growth
The new agreement supports Accor’s long-term plan to expand steadily in Sub-Saharan Africa. It also aligns with Mayan’s commitment to invest in projects that encourage sustainable development and strengthen community participation in tourism.
“This development agreement with Mayan Properties is an important step forward in our commitment to grow across Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Maya Ziade, chief development officer for Accor’s Premium, Midscale & Economy Division in the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye.
“With Novotel Nouakchott and Mövenpick Moroni signed, and three more hotels to follow, we are building a portfolio that meets real market needs and supports the ongoing growth of Africa’s tourism industry.”
Mohammed Al Dhaheri, vice chairman and managing director of Resources Investment and chairman of Mayan Properties, said the partnership reflects the UAE’s growing involvement in strengthening Africa’s hospitality infrastructure.
“Mayan Properties is proud to extend its partnership with Accor through this development agreement. It highlights the important role the Emirates plays in backing sustainable investment and deepening ties with Africa’s fast-growing tourism economies,” he said.
Accor’s regional footprint
Accor operates more than 175 properties across Africa, with over 33,000 rooms and more than 60 additional hotels in the pipeline. The agreement with Mayan reinforces its position as one of the region’s most active international operators, with plans to grow further in emerging and underserved markets.
