Hotel construction in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region rose by 44.3% in June 2015 compared to figures for June 2014, with 96,162 rooms in 366 hotels under construction during the month.

STR Global’s Construction Pipeline Report states there are currently a total of 659 hotels, comprising 168,361 under contract in the MEA region.

This is a 17% increase in rooms under construction, compared to 2014.

Dubai leads the regional market, with 17,358 rooms under construction in 68 hotels.

In Saudi Arabia, Makkah reported 14,882 rooms in nine hotels, and Riyadh reported 6,551 rooms under construction in 26 hotels.

Doha in Qatar is constructing 6,119 rooms in 25 hotels.

The under contract data includes projects in the in construction, final planning and planning stages but does not include projects in the unconfirmed stage, Hotelier Middle East reported.

According to STR Global's May 2015 pipeline data, there were 40.4% more rooms under construction in the region in May 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.