Travel
Ritz Carlton, a luxury Saudi prison, takes Feb. 14 bookings
The Ritz Carlton in Saudi Arabia’s capital may be reopening its doors in time for Valentine’s Day. (Photo: The Ritz-Carlton)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—The Ritz Carlton in Saudi Arabia’s capital may be reopening its doors in time for Valentine’s Day, after serving for several months as a prison for the country’s elite caught up in what the government has described as a crackdown on corruption.
The Ritz Carlton’s website on Monday showed bookings available beginning Feb.
14.
An unidentified call centre employee handling bookings for the hotel said: “Bookings are available from the 14th of February, but the hotel is not liable if the booking is cancelled. Local authorities might extend the hotel lockout for security reasons.
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Sarah Walker-Kerr, a Dubai-based spokeswoman for Marriott, of which the Ritz Carlton is a subsidiary, declined to comment.
Phone lines to the hotel have been cut off since Nov. 5, when the crackdown began.
