KUWAIT CITY, October 19: The JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City has been honored as a ‘National Winner’ in the Refit Project of the Year – Kuwait category at the prestigious 2024 MEED Projects Awards. This accolade celebrates the Hotel’s remarkable transformation and refurbishment, and was jointly received by the project owners, the Salhia Real Estate Company, and the leading regional multidisciplinary consultancy firm Pace.

The MEED Projects Awards, in association with Mashreq, are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honored in the Middle East’s design, construction and engineering sectors. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements across the region, recognizing projects that demonstrate exceptional planning, execution and innovation.

The refurbishment of the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City reflects Pace’s dedication to revitalizing iconic landmarks by blending historical preservation with modern design. Through adaptive reuse, the Firm extended the ground floor into a new public space and transformed the entrance lobby into a 2,000-square-metre retail area while maintaining the existing structure, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. Rekindling the architectural prominence of the Kuwait Downtown 'Iconic Gate' illustrated the Pace’s ability to reimagine cultural icons.

On this occasion, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Salhia Real Estate Company, Mr. Ghazi Fahed Alnafisi, stated “This award is a reflection of the success of the development efforts undertaken by Salhia Real Estate Company in the JW Marriott Hotel, the company’s latest development project. The award also serves as an incentive for our future goals aimed to achieve sustainable development across all the company’s properties and establishments. This aligns with the company’s comprehensive strategy to meet the evolving market needs with a modern vision that respects the environment while preserving the traditional architectural heritage of the buildings”.

Mr. Ghazi Fahad Alnafisi added that the complete renovation of JW Marriott Hotel, both internally and externally, aims to enhance the guest experience by offering a more luxurious and refined stay. He emphasized that the new design considers the hotel as one of Kuwait City’s iconic hospitality landmarks. The design is marked by its ability to remain competitive now and in the years to come, while integrating modern retail and hospitality services in a way that serves both current and future needs. Following the development, the project components are divided into sections: the commercial(ground floor and mezzanine), the offices (second to fourth floors), and the hotel (fifth to sixteenth floors)."

Expressing his excitement about the new recognition, Pace CEO Tarek Shuaib said, “We are incredibly honored to be named National Winner at the 2024 MEED Projects Awards. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and sustainability in every project we undertake. The refurbishment of the JW Marriott is a shining example of our team's hard work and dedication to transforming Kuwait's architectural landscape. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in the project. Together, we are not just building structures; we are creating legacies.”

The next phase of the Awards involves selecting the overall MENA winner for each of the over 12categories, with evaluations led by the MEED Editorial team and a panel of independent industry experts. The MENA Winners and the Project of the Year will be revealed at the awards gala on November 20, 2024, at the JW Marriott Marina in Dubai, UAE, marking a significant celebration of the region's top achievements.

As Pace continues to expand its projects across the Middle East, these awards serve as a reminder of the Firm’s ongoing dedication to delivering transformative, sustainable, and innovative architectural solutions.