Background:
Afghanistan's Taliban government took over management of Kabul's famed Serena hotel on Saturday, a hotel statement said, a luxury property targeted by Taliban attacks during their insurgency.

The Kabul Serena Hotel was run for nearly 20 years by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development in the Afghan capital and was popular with business travellers and foreign guests.

"Kabul Serena Hotel shall be closing its operations effective February 01, 2025," a statement from Serena on Friday night said. Hotel operations are now handled by the Hotel State Owned Corporation (HSOC).

The closure of Kabul Serena Hotel follows a series of changes in Afghanistan’s business and economic environment in recent years. Since 2021, various international organizations, private businesses, and aid agencies have adjusted their presence in the country, citing evolving circumstances. Economic conditions, regulatory frameworks, and operational dynamics have influenced business decisions, including those in the hospitality sector.

As Kabul Serena Hotel enters a new phase under HSOC, industry observers will be watching to see how the transition unfolds and what it means for the broader hospitality landscape in Afghanistan.
 

Aaron Azim, the chief executive of Cinderella International Group, told Agence France-Presse that his company has been managing the newly renamed Kabul Grand Hotel since Feb. 1, 2025, under a 10-year contract awarded through a Taliban-run bidding process.

Azim, an Afghan-German national, did not disclose the financial details of the agreement but said the deal was finalized following the expiration of the previous contract with the Serena Hotels group. The Serena chain, owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, had operated the Kabul property for two decades.