A new report by Ookla® highlights that luxury hotels in Riyadh and Dubai are setting the standard for high-speed internet in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The study, based on Speedtest Intelligence® data from October 2023 to October 2024, analyzed Wi-Fi performance at 22 top-rated five-star hotels across the region, revealing significant variations in connectivity quality.
Among the standout performers, Four Seasons in Riyadh recorded a median download speed of 154.75 Mbps, followed by Dubai’s Raffles the Palm (122.82 Mbps) and Jumeirah Mina Al Salam (121.35 Mbps). These speeds are capable of supporting multiple 4K streams, seamless video conferencing, and ultra-fast downloads.
Hotels with median speeds between 50 Mbps and 100 Mbps, categorized as “good performers,” include Rixos Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt (93.70 Mbps) and prominent properties in Doha, Dubai, Muscat, and Marrakesh. However, nearly half of the hotels reviewed fell into the “lagging” category, with speeds under 50 Mbps, including some properties in Abu Dhabi and Muscat where speeds dropped below 15 Mbps.
“The pandemic reshaped traveler expectations, increasing the demand for seamless high-speed Wi-Fi,” said Karim Yaici, Lead Industry Analyst for the Middle East and Africa at Ookla. He noted that while Gulf countries generally boast advanced broadband infrastructure, some hotel Wi-Fi networks suffer from configuration issues rather than limited broadband capacity.
