Hotels in MEA Report Increase in ADR, OR and RevPAR

According to July 2015 data compiled by STR Global, hotels in the Middle East/Africa region reported positive results in the three key performance metrics when reported in U.S. dollar constant currency.

Compared to July 2014, the Middle East/Africa region reported a 12.1% increase in occupancy to 55.1%, a 5.3% rise in ADR to US$159.10 and an 18.1% increase in RevPAR to US$87.69.

Performance of featured countries for July 2015 (local currency, year-on-year comparisons):

Kenya reported double-digit growth in each of the three key performance metrics: occupancy (+11.0% to 61.0%), ADR (+20.4% to KES15,346.94) and RevPAR (+33.6% to KES9,354.16). Despite terrorist attacks in prior months, the occupancy and RevPAR increases were the highest in Kenya since March 2014. U.S. President Barack Obama also visited the country in late July.

Lebanon experienced double-digit increases for occupancy (+45.1% to 56.3%) and RevPAR (+57.8% to LBP152,558.34). ADR in the country was up 8.8% to LBP270,939.91. An earlier Ramadan made for positive comparisons to the same time period in 2014.

Saudi Arabia reported a 0.7% increase in occupancy to 59.1%, a 1.2% rise in ADR to SAR1,260.93 and a 1.9% increase in RevPAR to SAR745.84. The 59.1% occupancy level was Saudi Arabia’s highest for July since 2012. A contributing factor was the performance in Makkah. During the final 10 days of Ramadan, Makkah occupancy rose to 82.8%, and ADR increased to SAR3,061.88.

The United Arab Emirates posted double-digit increases in occupancy (+24.1% to 57.6%) and RevPAR (+23.6% to AED307.46), while ADR in the United Arab Emirates was down 0.4% to AED533.88. Occupancy and RevPAR growth in the market began with the start of Eid al-Fitr. Overall for the two months in which Ramadan occurred, occupancy in the United Arab Emirates increased year-on-year by 1.9% to 59.4%. Combined ADR for June and July was down 4.5% to AED523.8, and RevPAR dropped 3.2% to AED310.60.

Performance of featured markets for July 2015 (local currency, year-on-year comparisons):

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, reported double-digit growth in occupancy (+24.7% to 57.8%) and RevPAR (+21.9% to AED346.76). ADR in Dubai fell 2.2% to AED599.62. July occupancy in Dubai moved at or above the 75.0% threshold for the days of the month following 19 July. ADR in the market has been pressured as year-to-date supply growth (+6.2%) has outpaced demand (+5.1%).

Manama, Bahrain, saw a 5.6% increase in occupancy to 42.3% as well as double-digit growth in ADR (+19.8% to BHD82.13) and RevPAR (+26.5% to BHD34.74).

Nairobi, Kenya, experienced double-digit increases in the three key performance metrics: occupancy (+11.5% to 61.4%), ADR (+22.8% to KES15,486.47) and RevPAR (+36.9% to KES9,501.59).

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reported increases in the three key performance metrics: occupancy (+1.0% to 35.6%), ADR (+7.2% to SAR812.48) and RevPAR (+8.3% to SAR289.29). July occupancy in Riyadh has not reached the 40.0% mark for three consecutive years.