A remit extended across the Kingdom
The announcement was made on social media by Mark Sawkins, Vice President Operations Middle East, Türkiye and India for Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems. Fadeel Wehbe becomes Managing Director for Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems in Saudi Arabia. His responsibilities thus extend to several of the Accor group’s luxury brands.
He also retains the leadership of Sofitel Riyadh Hotel & Convention Centre, a role he has held since June 2025. The 388-room property, located in the Ar Rahmaniyyah district, opened in December 2025 as the first Sofitel in the Saudi capital. It is home to the Princess Nouf International Convention Centre, which offers nearly 8,500 sq m of flexible event space.
According to Mark Sawkins, Fadeel Wehbe will be tasked with supporting the continued growth and development of the group’s luxury portfolio across the Kingdom. He will work closely with the teams to strengthen the brands and the quality of the guest experience.
A luxury portfolio gathering momentum
This new structure comes at a time of strong growth for Accor’s luxury brands in Saudi Arabia. When the Riyadh hotel opened, Sofitel operated three hotels in the country, in Madinah, Al Khobar and Riyadh, with several further openings in development.
The pipeline notably includes Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah, billed as the future largest Sofitel in the world with 1,141 rooms, signed with Jabal Omar Development Company. MGallery also features in the pipeline with Abraj Omar Hotel & Residences Makkah, developed with Alesayi Holding.
Mark Sawkins places the appointment in the context of Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global destination for luxury hospitality.
Analysis – Entrusting several brands to a single executive for the whole country reflects a market whose hotel pipeline is heavily concentrated in the upper segments. This model makes it possible to coordinate operations and forthcoming openings from Riyadh.
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Four decades in the Middle East
A graduate of the University of Denver (BSBA Hotel & Restaurant Management, 1986), Fadeel Wehbe began his career the same year at the Hyatt Regency Dubai, on the front desk. He then joined the Al Khaleej Palace Hotel in Dubai, where he rose from Director of Rooms to Resident Manager, before being appointed General Manager in 1992.
General manager roles followed for Abu Dhabi National Hotels at the Jazira Beach Resort & Hotel, then for Starwood at the Sheraton Sana’a in Yemen and the Sheraton Karachi Hotel & Towers in Pakistan. At Starwood, he went on to serve as General Manager Special Projects for the Middle East. Between 2009 and 2010, he was Vice President Development & Acquisitions for the MENA region at Millennium & Copthorne Hotels. Such development-side experience remains unusual in a predominantly operational career.
A return to the Accor ecosystem
His appointment at Sofitel Riyadh marked a return to Accor. He had led the Pullman Dubai Jumeirah Lakes Towers from 2011 to 2018, followed by the Fairmont Amman in Jordan until 2020. He then joined Marriott International as General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre.
From August 2022 to May 2025, he oversaw a cluster of six Marriott hotels in Dubai across three brands: Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Le Méridien Fairway, Aloft Dubai Airport, Aloft Al Mina, Element Dubai Airport and Element Al Mina. This multi-property, multi-brand experience maps directly onto the remit he now takes on at Saudi level.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Fadeel Wehbe named Managing Director, Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems – Saudi Arabia
Expanded remit across Accor’s luxury brands in the Kingdom, announced by VP Operations Mark Sawkins
Retains his role as Managing Director of Sofitel Riyadh Hotel & Convention Centre (388 keys), held since June 2025
Brand pipeline includes Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah (1,141 keys) and an MGallery project in Makkah
Previously multi-property GM of six Marriott hotels in Dubai and GM of The Ritz-Carlton DIFC
University of Denver graduate, career started at Hyatt Regency Dubai in 1986
