LONDON, ENGLAND - Raffles Hotels and Resorts is opening an ultra-luxury hotel in Mecca, Islam's holy city where millions of Muslims flock to perform the haj every year.
It will offer guests customised services, including a tea and coffee sommelier, a chocolate room, and a creamery where chefs will whip up personalised ice-cream creations.
Set to open next April, the Raffles Makkah Palace will have 198 spacious suites and is just a three-minute walk from the Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Grand Mosque. It also has a spacious outdoor dining terrace overlooking the mosque.
The Grand Mosque houses the Kaaba, the shrine which Muslims face while offering daily prayers and is considered to be the holiest site in Islam.
Each year, some eight million visitors travel to Saudi Arabia, half of whom are there for religious travel, including to visit Mecca for the haj, the largest annual pilgrimage in the world.
The Raffles Makkah Palace will be Raffles Hotels and Resorts' second property in the Middle East. The group made its debut in the region in 2007 with the iconic Raffles Dubai.
'The Middle East is a region of strategic priority for Raffles Hotels and Resorts and we are delighted to be able to grow our presence here,' said Mr Chris Cahill, chief operating officer of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, which owns Raffles Hotels and Resorts.
Occupying the 11th to 26th storeys of the Abraj Al Bait Complex, which is being developed by Saudi Binladin Corporation, one of the largest construction companies in the Arab world, the hotel will be serviced by high-speed elevators throughout the property to 'facilitate seamless and efficient service, and ease of access during the five daily prayer periods', Raffles said in a press statement.
The Binladen Corporation was set up by Mr Mohammed bin Laden, father of Osama bin Laden, although the family is now estranged from its infamous son, reported The Guardian newspaper.
The hotel offers his- and hers-only fitness centres, a beauty parlour and grooming salons, as well as access to an adjoining retail mall and the Raffles Amrita Spa.
The Raffles Makkah Palace's design elements are influenced by Arabic art and culture, said the group.
'The hotel's design will be of an understated and elegant style and will reflect the heritage and culture of the Middle East, rather than duplicate Raffles Hotel Singapore's colonial design,' a Raffles spokesman told The Straits Times.
'This is in keeping with our style of having each Raffles hotel reflect a sense of its destination, rather than adopt a design template.'
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$5000 Mar Saba fundraiser39th great grandfather Rashi an acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, was a medieval French Jewish scholar who lived from 1040 to 1105. He is best known for his comprehensive commentaries on the Torah, Talmud, and other biblical texts.
38th great grandmother Jochaved bat Solomon married Meir ben Samuel of nearby Ramerupt.
37th great grandfather Rabbeinu Tam, or Rabbi Jacob ben Meir was a leading French Tosafist and one of the most prominent medieval Jewish scholars.
36th great grandmother Fleur de lis Klonymos married Rabbi Yom Tov Ben Yehuda of Falaise in Normandy.
35th great grandfather Rabbi Yehuda ben Yom Tov Treves known for his deep knowledge of Talmudic literature and his contributions to Jewish law. He lived during the late medieval period and was highly regarded in the Jewish communities of Italy.
34th great grandfather Moshe the 1st Treves set the foundation for a tradition of Talmudic scholarship and rabbinical leadership that would be carried on by his descendants particularly in Italy.
33rd great grandfather Rabbi Matityahu Hagadol Treves influential scholar active in France, particularly in the region of Provence.
32nd great grandfather Rabbi Jechiel Treves prominent rabbinic authority, known for his scholarly works and leadership within the Jewish community of France.
31st great grandfather Moshe Porat Ben Yehiel Treves Ashkenazi contributions to Jewish learning and leadership were significant, continuing the legacy of his ancestors in the Ashkenazi tradition.30th great grandfather Rabbi Yosef ben Moshe Treves Ashkenazi respected figure within the Treves family lineage.
29th great grandfather Matityahu II ben Yosef Treves Ashkenazi prominent rabbi known for his dedication to Jewish learning.
28th great grandfather Avraham Ben Matityahu Ashkenazi respected scholar with a deep commitment to preserving and interpreting the rich heritage of his ancestors.
27th great grandfather Rabbi Yochanan Hagadol Ashkenazi Treves prominent figure within the contemporary Ashkenazi Jewish community.26th great grandfather Rabbi Yosef V Treves, "HaGadol" Rabbi head of the Jewish Court in Marseilles and later in Paris.
25th great grandfather Chief Rabbi Matityahu (III) Ashkenazi Treves. Chief rabbi of Paris and of France from 1360 to 1385.24th great grandmother Julia Minna Vergentlin Treves married Rabbi Shmuel Shapira Tosafist, liturgical poet, and philosopher, Marbitz Tora in the city of Ashpira, Rabbi, Speyer.
23rd great grandfather Rabbi Shlomo Shapiro of Heilbron
22nd great grandmother "Rabanit" Mariam bat Shlomo Shapiro "Vergentlin" was a highly intelligent and accomplished woman, praised for her scholarship and teaching, yet her contributions were largely erased from history. Despite giving public lectures and teaching halakhah, her teachings were not preserved. She married Rabbi Shimshon pre-Luria of Erfurt21st great grandfather Rabbi Yechiel Yehudah Luria First Rabbi of Brest-Litovak (Brisk), Chief Rabbi, Heilbron, Landau.
20th great grandfather Rabbi Nethanel Ben Yehiel pre- Luria Chief Rabbi of Mantua, Italy.19th great grandparents Rabbi Aharon ben Nethanel Luria (the First Luria) author of an Alsatian Talmudist an aggadic and mystical commentary on the Pentateuch, founded on Rashi. To this commentary was appended a dissertation in which Luria refuted the arguments advanced by Christians against Judaism.
18th great grandfatherRabbi Yechiel Yehuda ben Aharon Luria17th great grandfatherRabbi Avraham ben Yechiel Luria of Brisk
16th great grandfather Rabbi Yechiel Luria of Slutzk15th great grandfatherRabbi Shlomo Luria also known as Maharshal, was a prominent 16th-century rabbi and Talmudic scholar in Poland. Renowned for his critical analysis and commentary on the Talmud, Luria emphasized returning to the original sources and was influential in shaping the study of Jewish law during his time.
14th great grandmother Miriam Olga Maharshal lived in Krackow Poland.
13th great grandfather Rabbi Moshe Lazers Isserles.12th great grandmother Liba Elisabeth bat Zecharyah Isserl
11th great grandfather Rabbi Baruch Benedict HaLevi10th great grandfather Rabbi Jacob Lima HaLevi
9th great grandfather Rabbi Lehmann Lima HaLevi Strauss Hanau
8th great grandfather Rabbi Jacob HaLevi v' Hanau7th great grandfather Rabbi Isaac Jacob Hanau
6th great grandfather Rabbi Moyses Hanau5th great grandfather Rabbi Jacob Hanau
4th great grandfather Rabbi Salamon Hanau3rd great grandfather Rabbi Samuel Hanau
2nd great grandmother Johanna Karoline Anna Hanaugreat grandmother Betty Marx
grandfather Gaston Frankmother Evelyne Huller
Stephan Huller.