Starwood Hotels & Resorts is set to expand its presence in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region by more than 60 per cent over the next five years.

With an existing portfolio of 82 hotels, representing 22,000 guestrooms, the company will add almost 50 new openings with more than 14,000 guestrooms to the region.

Hotel openings include six for Dubai and Saudi Arabia, three for Iraq, two for Nigeria and two in Algeria. Egypt, Senegal and South Africa will also be a focus for the new openings.

More than 20 hotels are expected to open by the end of 2015.

Frits van Paasschen, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts said: "Starwood continues to see demand for growth of all of our brands across the Middle East and Africa despite economic and political uncertainty in some parts of this incredibly diverse region.

"Rapid economic growth, rising personal incomes, a growing middle class and ever greater global connectivity are driving new travel patterns and demand for travel, and this region is at the centre of these trends and a key focus of our growth strategy."