According to recent data released by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom’s tourism sector is experiencing a continued boom, in fact, it is surging.
With an unprecedented 122 million arrivals recorded in 2025, Saudi Arabia has officially eclipsed its original Vision 2030 tourism targets, securing a prestigious position among the top 10 most-visited nations on the planet.
From Vision to Globally Recognised Reality
Exceeding all expectations and out-pacing projected growth, the latest data released highlights that the Kingdom has welcomed a staggering 122 million visitors, including 30 million international travellers, flocking to popular destinations like the Red Sea and AlUla.
This global group of travellers has grown with blistering speed thanks to the expansion and ease at which travellers from 66 different countries can avail of e-visas. Of course, the launch of daily flights to and from Saudi, regularly connecting the Kingdom to cities like London, Paris and Dubai, has only further encouraged international travellers to explore Saudi as a destination for both leisure and business. New flight paths also include regular connections between Saudi Arabia and further afield countries such as China, Thailand and the United States of America.
According to the latest 2026 data released by the Ministry of Tourism at the World Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia's "opening up" is no longer a future prospect — it is a present-day reality. This momentum has seen Saudi Arabia outpace every other G20 nation as it accelerates toward its ambitious target of 150 million annual visitors. In 2025, the Kingdom welcomed 122 million domestic and international tourists in 2025, marking a 5% increase from the previous record-setting year.
The World is Discovering Saudi
While religious tourism to Makkah and Madinah remains a cornerstone of the Kingdom's local, regional and indeed, international tourism figures, the 2025 surge in tourist figures was driven by a the growing diversification and reasoning as to why people visit Saudi Arabia:
- The Giga-Project Effect: 2025 saw the 'full reveal' of the high-end hospitality projects in both the Red Sea region and Diriyah, moving these locations from construction sites to fully operational luxury hubs.
- The "Unseen" Landscapes: From the ancient Nabataean tombs of AlUla to the lush, mist-covered peaks of Abha — which defy the traditional desert stereotypes of the region — the 'mystery factor' of this once-closed destination has become a magnet for trendsetting travellers. Regular flights now offer a world-first look at Saudi Arabia's surprisingly diverse topography.
- The Opportunities: Fuelled by a surge in high-profile projects and investment opportunities, an increasing number of regional and international firms are establishing local hubs and regional offices within Saudi Arabia.
- The Events Hub: Saudi Arabia is fast becoming a global events powerhouse. Propelled by the growing international profile of Riyadh Season — which ranges from exclusive sporting nights, globally recognised film festivals to much-talked-about comedy festivals — Saudi Arabia is rapidly diversifying its cultural calendar. By pairing home-grown concepts with world-renowned fixtures like the ATP Next Gen Finals, LIV Golf and the Esports World Cup, the Kingdom has successfully pivoted into a premier global events capital.
2025 Growth Statistics at a Glance
Moving the Goalposts, Growing Opportunity
Because the Kingdom hit its original 100-million-visitor goal seven years ahead of schedule (in 2023), the bar has been raised. Upholding the goals of Vision 2030, the revised target is 150 million annual visits by 2030.
To accommodate the flood of both new and returning visitors, the Kingdom is currently building 300,000 new hotel rooms. Beyond the hospitality boom, Riyadh is reimagining global connectivity with the King Salman International Airport, an aviation 'aero-tropolis' designed to become one of the world's most significant transit hubs. This transformation is set to be supercharged by the launch of Riyadh Air; as the world’s first AI-native carrier, it presents a level of high-end connectivity that will anchor the capital’s airport as a cornerstone of international travel. As Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb noted in Davos this week, Saudi tourism is no longer just a "story" — it is the engine of the nation's new economy.
