STR’s March 2016 Pipeline Report has revealed that 151,654 rooms in 536 hotels are under contract in the Middle East and there is 61,585 rooms in 317 hotels under contract in Africa. 
The under contract total in the Middle East subcontinent represents a 40.9% increase in rooms under contract compared with March 2015 and a 42.7% year-over-year increase in rooms in construction. The Middle East reported 80,423 rooms in 251 hotels under construction for the month of March 2016.
The under contract total in the Northern Africa and Southern Africa subcontinents reported a 46.1% increase in rooms under contract compared with March 2015 and a 48.0% year-over-year increase in rooms in construction. Africa reported 30,625 rooms in 161 hotels under construction for the month.
Among the key markets in the Middle East and Africa, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, reported the largest number of rooms In Construction with 21,056 rooms in 13 hotels. Three other markets reported more than 5,000 rooms In Construction: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (20,640 rooms in 66 hotels); Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (6,878 rooms in 31 hotels); and Doha, Qatar (5,724 rooms in 26 hotels).
