The hotel was closed during the probe (Picture: AFP Photo/Fayez Nureldine/Getty)

A luxury hotel in Saudia Arabia that was used a prison during the country’s corruption crackdown will reopen next month.

An employee at the opulent Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, who did not want to be named, said bookings by the public would be accepted from February 14.

Dozens of princes, senior officials and top businessmen were detained and confined in the hotel as the government launched a corruption purge in early November.

During the crakdown it was closed to normal business but the opening up of the hotel suggests authorities are close to settling the cases of many suspects.

The cheapest room at the hotel costs £471 a night.

The hotel is set to open its doors next month (Picture: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool, File)

Official sources Saudi authorities were close to winding up a major part of the crackdown which would allow them to return the Ritz-Carlton to normal operations.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Marriott hotel group, which owns the Ritz-Carlton brand, said: ‘The hotel is operating under the directive of local authorities and not as a traditional hotel for the time being.’

The spokesmperson declined to elaborate or discuss when the hotel might reopen.

Saudi authorities have said they expect the vast majority of suspects to agree to financial settlements of charges against them, and that Riyadh hopes to recover about $100 billion of illicit funds.

A small number are expected to be prosecuted.

Construction giant Saudi Binladin Group said on Saturday that some of its shareholders might transfer part of their holdings to the state in a settlement with authorities.

In late November, senior Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender to the throne, was freed after reaching a settlement with authorities that involved paying more than $1 billion, according to a Saudi official.

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