With 2025 just around the corner, now is the time to start planning your travels for the coming months — and new research has revealed how Saudis are picking out their favourite destinations for the year.
According to the Hilton 2025 Trends Report, the top priority for tourists is recharging (42%) followed by spending time with friends and family (38%), while other reasons include learning about culture (28%), enjoying one-of-a-kind experiences (26%) and self-discovery (21%).
The study has several interesting nuggets, including the suggestion that three quarters of Saudi travellers relax in bed for an entire day during their trips.
Saudis travelling with kids pick places they wanted to visit as children
Over the years, the Kingdom's citizens and residents have garnered a reputation for being sophisticated travellers with an affinity for immersing themselves in the rich traditions and heritage of the destinations they visit.
When travelling with children, nearly three in four Saudis pick destinations that they wanted to visit in their own early years, while places to build lasting memories remain high on the travel agenda, along with those that offer out authentic local experiences.
People traveling with kids also make most of their travel decisions around their kids’ needs, with the vast majority letting their children select the restaurants they dine in.
One in five Saudis bring their pets on holiday
Pet-friendly travel is also on the rise, with one in five Saudi leisure travellers often taking their furry friends with them on holiday.
Simon Vincent, executive vice president and president of Europe, Middle East and Africa at Hilton, said: “Our 2025 Trends Report shows that resting and recharging continue to be primary motivators to travel, and exploring nostalgic destinations with family and friends is on the rise."
In recent weeks, a series of fascinating end-of-year trend reports have revealed deep insights into the preferences of Saudi travellers.
Where Saudis are planning to travel in 2025
First, we heard from flight comparison website Skyscanner, revealing that the Kingdom's citizens and residents have their sights set on a wide range of destinations in 2025 including the Italian capital of Rome, Poland's Krakow, Montreal in Canada and Gan in the Maldives.
The company also revealed that two Saudi destinations have ranked among the world's top places to go next year, with the UNESCO World Heritage site of AlUla in Saudi's northwest and the capital city of Riyadh recording surging search interest.
Google confirmed the Kingdom's popularity with a report announcing that Saudi Arabia will be one of the world's top tourist destinations by 2040, outranking popular destinations like Thailand, the UK and Germany.
According to the research, the Middle East will see an "influx of travellers" fuelled by "ambitious tourism projects such as NEOM and Expo 2030", plus easier visa processes and state-of-the-art infrastructure upgrades.
Read more insights from the Hilton 2025 Trends Report
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