A total of 150 hotels are forecast to be built in the Middle East and Africa next year as the region looks to build up its growing tourism industry.
According to new data from STR Global, next year is set to see an acceleration in new hotel builds in the region compared to 2012.
Year-to-date, 46 hotels opened in the region adding 10,510 rooms.
In the remainder of 2012, STR Global said 72 more hotels are expected to open with 18,072 rooms, with properties in the more upmarket sectors set to dominate, STR Global said.
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During 2013, the region is expecting 150 hotels to open with 37,349 rooms, with the Upper Upscale segment set to add the most rooms with 9,870 rooms in 35 hotels.
A total of 493 hotels totalling 122,942 rooms are included in the September STR Global Construction Pipeline Report for the region.
The total active pipeline data includes projects in the in construction, final planning and planning stages.
Last month, it was reported that hotel construction markets in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE are forecast to see strong double-digit growth.
More than 6,400 rooms are in Riyadh's hotel construction pipeline making it the Middle East's biggest market for potential growth, STR Global data showed.
It said the Saudi capital's hotel sector could grow by 84.5 percent if all 6.413 rooms in the pipeline open while Jeddah's hotel market is also set for major expansion of 70.7 percent with 4,225 rooms expected to open.
STR Global's figures also showed that Muscat was poised for 60.9 percent growth if all 2,634 rooms open and Abu Dhabi is set to see 50.7 percent with 9,114 rooms in the pipeline.
Dubai is also forecast to see double digit growth (28.6 percent) with 17,409 rooms in the construction pipeline.
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