| Heritage Commission, Cruise Saudi partner to promote cultural tourism
Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Heritage Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with Cruise Saudi, a company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), to enhance cooperation in showcasing Saudi cultural heritage within cruise itineraries and integrating heritage designs into ship and port facilities. |
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| TOURISE stimulates $113bn in investments at inaugural global summit in Riyadh
TOURISE stimulated $113 billion in investments to boost the global tourism sector, accelerate its transformation, and ensure sustainable growth. |
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| AlUla to double hotel room supply in year-round tourism push
AlUla has increased its aviation capacity to 30 weekly flights and is aiming to double its hotel room supply to 2,000, a senior figure in the organization tasked with developing the area told Arab News. |
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| Italians’ interest in traveling to Saudi Arabia is growing, says country’s tourism minister
Italians’ interest in traveling to Saudi Arabia is increasing, as the Kingdom continues its efforts to boost tourism flows, while work is underway to explore opportunities for intensifying direct flights between the two sides. |
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| Saudi airports welcome over 103m passengers in first 9 months of 2025
Saudi airports welcomed 103.1 million passengers between January and September 2025, marking a 9 percent increase compared to the same period last year, official data showed. |
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| Saudi Arabia eyes top 10 global tourism ranking, says Al-Khateeb
Saudi Arabia is on track to rank among the world’s top 10 tourist destinations, according to Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. |
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| Saudi Arabia a model for tourism infrastructure development, says Croatian minister
Tourism is evolving rapidly, shaped by global trends and emerging technologies. At the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly held in Riyadh this year, two themes dominated the discussions: sustainability and artificial intelligence. |
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| ‘Future cities will be built for visitors, not just residents,’ Saudi tourism minister tells Arab News
Saudi Arabia is positioning itself at the forefront of the global travel evolution by designing destinations that will target the tourists of the future, the Kingdom’s tourism minister has said. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Qatar sign MoU to strengthen tourism collaboration
Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation and exchange expertise in tourism development, on the sidelines of the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh. |
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| After luxury push, Saudi Arabia targets broader tourist market, minister says
Saudi Arabia is building up its mid- and upper-mid-range tourism options and plans to increase access to hotel accommodation for religious pilgrimages after years focused on developing expensive luxury resorts, the kingdom’s tourism minister said. |
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| ‘A Paperless Event’ – the slogan of Saudi technology at the UN General Assembly for Tourism
Papers are absent, and Saudi technology is present to say “a paperless event” at the UN General Assembly meetings for the tourism sector, which will be held in Riyadh, with the participation of more than 100 ministers from around the world, Al-Eqtisadiah reports. |
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| UN Tourism General Assembly gets underway in Riyadh
The 26th session of the UN Tourism General Assembly has got underway in Riyadh, with Saudi Arabia acting as the first Gulf Cooperation Council country to host such an event. |
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| PIF’s Soudah Development partners with FII Institute to boost sustainable tourism
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund–owned Soudah Development has signed a strategic partnership with the Future Investment Initiative Institute to advance sustainable investment and tourism in the Aseer region. |
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| Saudi tourism ministry opens new offices to boost services
The Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated new offices in the Makkah and Madinah regions as part of its initiative to improve the efficiency of tourism services, according to the Saudi Press Agency. |
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| $14.2bn earned from record summer tourism
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced record-breaking results for the “Saudi Summer” program, welcoming over 32 million domestic and international tourists, a 26 percent increase compared to the 2024 summer season. |
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| Direct Jeddah–Pristina flights open doors for Saudi investors, says Kosovo ambassador
The launch of direct flynas flights between Jeddah and Pristina is more than a tourism milestone — it signals Kosovo’s rise as a new destination for Saudi business and investment, according to the country’s ambassador. |
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| Diriyah Co. awards $5bn in H1 contracts to boost tourism push
Diriyah Co., backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, awarded contracts worth SR18.75 billion ($5 billion) in the first half of 2025, as the historic capital’s redevelopment speeds up. |
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| Jeddah jet ski: How the Red Sea is powering KSA's tourism
Saudi Arabia: Once a trading port and gateway to holy cities, Jeddah’s Red Sea coast has transformed into a lively center for marine leisure, luxury tourism, and major yachting and water sports events. |
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| Oman tourism revenues hit $5.5bn in 2024
Oman’s tourism sector contributed over 2.12 billion rials ($5.51 billion) to the Gulf country’s national economy in 2024, up from 1.75 billion rials in 2018, according to official data. |
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| Human-centered travel takes priority in Saudi Arabia’s tourism vision
Saudi Arabia is placing human-centered travel at the forefront of its tourism strategy, focusing on authentic cultural experiences, meaningful interactions, and community engagement as it reshapes its global tourism identity. |
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| Saudi Arabia launches global platform to shape future of tourism
Saudi Arabia has launched TOURISE, a global platform connecting leaders in tourism, tech, investment, and sustainability, as it positions itself to shape future travel policy and innovation. |
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| Qatar tourism sector accounts for 8% of GDP, official says
Qatar’s tourism industry contributed 55 billion Qatari riyals ($15.1 billion) to the country’s gross domestic product in 2024, accounting for 8 percent of total economic output, according to a senior official. |
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| FHS25: Tourism leaders see Saudi Arabia becoming top 5 global destination by 2040
As Saudi Arabia continues its rapid transformation into a global tourism hub, industry leaders at the Future Hospitality Summit in Riyadh forecast the Kingdom’s emergence as one of the world’s top five travel destinations by 2040. |
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| Passengers in Saudi airports surge 46% since launch of Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia’s airports handled 128 million passengers in 2024, marking a 45.8 percent increase since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, according to the Kingdom’s latest annual report. |
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| Key tourism roles to be localized in Saudi Arabia as part of national employment push
Hotel managers, travel agency directors, and tour guides are among 41 tourism roles set to be reserved for Saudi nationals under plans to boost local employment and reduce reliance on foreign labor. |
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| Saudi tourism license applications up 390% after World Cup announcement: vice minister
Tourism license applications in Saudi Arabia have surged nearly fourfold since the Kingdom secured hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, a senior official has revealed. |
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| Saudi Arabia sees record $41bn in inbound tourism spending as Vision 2030 projects come to life
Inbound tourism spending in Saudi Arabia surged to a record SR153.61 billion ($40.95 billion) in 2024, marking a 13.82 percent annual increase, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahsa records 500% growth in local, international tourists in 2024
Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahsa region saw a 500 percent surge in tourists, surpassing 3.2 million in 2024 compared to 2019, the Kingdom’s tourism minister said. |
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| How Saudi Arabia is leveraging regenerative tourism to blend luxury with sustainability
At the heart of Saudi Arabia’s environmental strategy is regenerative tourism, which aims to protect natural habitats through science-led approaches and sustainable practices. |
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| Saudi Ministry of Education issues directive for national dress for secondary school students
The Saudi Ministry of Education announced on Friday a new policy requiring secondary school students in public and private institutions to adhere to the national dress code. |
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| Saudi ministry records 7,521 tourism violations
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism revealed the results of its third-quarter 2024 inspections, involving 9,655 checks on hospitality facilities and tourism activities across the Kingdom. |
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| Tourist spending in Saudi Arabia up 27%, reaching nearly $7bn
Tourism spending in Saudi Arabia saw an annual increase of 27.25 percent in the three months to the end of September, hitting SR25.05 billion ($6.68 billion), according to new figures. |
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| Qatar surpasses 2024 visitor target welcoming 5m travelers
Qatar welcomed 5 million visitors in 2024, surpassing its target of 4.79 million and marking a 25 percent increase in international arrivals compared to the previous year. |
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| Saudi Entertainment Ventures unveils $346m destination in Jazan region
Saudi Arabia’s Jazan region is set to host a new SR1.3 billion ($346 million) entertainment destination, with Saudi Entertainment Ventures, or SEVEN, awarding the project’s development contract to Alfanar Projects. |
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| JLL secures contract to support AlUla’s transformation into global tourism hub
US-based real estate firm JLL has secured a program management contract with AlUla Development Co. to support the Saudi city’s transformation into a global tourism hub. |
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| PIF’s Dan Co. to launch resort in Al-Ahsa to boost Saudi tourism sector
Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is poised for significant growth with the announcement of a new resort project in Al-Ahsa by Dan Co., a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund. |
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| Tech and tourism under discussion at Saudi-Slovenia business forum
Saudi Arabia and Slovenia are set to deepen economic ties in technology, tourism, and automotive industries following discussions at a business forum in Riyadh. |
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| Saudi Arabia and UK forge deeper ties in trade, tourism and innovation
Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom are solidifying their partnership through expanded collaborations in key sectors, including finance, trade, tourism and innovation. |
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| Saudia teams up with Air France-KLM to strengthen local MRO services
The Kingdom’s national carrier, Saudia, has entered into a strategic partnership with Air France-KLM to expand and localize its maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities. This collaboration aims to enhance the Kingdom’s aviation infrastructure and contribute to its economic growth. |
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| KSA pledges $932m boost to 17 tourism projects in Al-Ahsa
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has committed over SR3.5 billion ($932 million) to develop 17 tourism projects in Al-Ahsa, positioning the region as a key destination in the Kingdom’s growing travel sector, according to a senior official. |
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| Saudi Arabia opens Sindalah in NEOM as part of Vision 2030 tourism drive
Saudi Arabia has unveiled its luxury island destination, Sindalah, part of the $500-billion NEOM mega-project, as the Kingdom intensifies efforts to expand its tourism sector. |
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| Wellness tourism – a rising force in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia is rapidly positioning itself as a global leader in wellness tourism, a sector that promises significant economic returns while aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province unveils $3bn tourism projects
Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province is set for a significant tourism expansion following the approval of 17 new projects valued at over SR12.7 billion ($3.38 billion) as part of the Kingdom’s dedicated fund portfolio. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s tourism growth key to Vision 2030: Accor CEO
French hospitality firm Accor is optimistic about the growth potential in Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, which is being driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives and rich history, said the company’s top official. |
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| Saudi Arabia leads G20 in tourism growth with 73% rise in international visitors
Saudi Arabia has emerged as a leader in tourism growth among G20 nations, experiencing a remarkable 73 percent increase in international visitors in the first seven months of 2024 compared to 2019. |
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| Sustainability takes center stage in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality landscape
In the competitive world of hospitality, sustainability is no longer a niche trend but a crucial business strategy. So, is your next hotel stay contributing to a greener planet and supporting local communities? |
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| Water parks set to make a splash with international tourists, experts say
Investments in water parks are set to bolster Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, as the Kingdom eyes attracting over 150 million visitors by the end of the decade, experts said. |
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| STA, Visa join hands to launch Tourism Data Lab in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is making significant strides in enhancing its tourism sector with the launch of a Tourism Data and Campaigns Management Hub. |
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| Kuwait and Bahrain ink executive program for tourism cooperation
In a significant step towards enhancing bilateral relations and fostering the tourism sector, Kuwait and Bahrain signed the executive program of the tourism cooperation agreement for the years 2024, 2025, and 2026. |
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| Bahraini nationals top list of 8.6m GCC visitors to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia welcomed 8.6 million visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in 2023, with Bahraini travelers accounting for 3.4 million of the total. |