Ramadan has for many years been a season for travel in Saudi Arabia, whether for religious, cultural or leisure purposes. Travel app Wego revealed a 131% month on month surge in travel bookings ahead of Ramadan.
Egypt, India and Pakistan were the top interantional destinations for Saudi travelers, which the company said signals "strong cultural and familial ties". Domestically, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam lead travel preferences.
Meanwhile, in terms of accommodation bookings, 4-star and 5-star hotels accounted for 53% of bookings both domestically and internationally. Unsurprisingly, performing Umrah is a key driver of travel, with the five most-booked hotels in Saudi Arabia located in Makkah. Aparthotels and luxury resorts were secondary choices for accommodation.
The report also showed a growing preference for solo trips, with 76% of all Saudi users who booked Ramadan trips in 2024 traveling alone, and early 2025 data suggesting a continuation of this trend. Users also tended to book via mobile, with 62% using their phones to make bookings.
“As Saudi travelers prepare for Ramadan and Eid, we are seeing a clear preference for effortless mobile-first travel planning, along with a strong inclination toward premium hospitality and Performing Umrah,” said Mamoun Hmidan, Chief Business Officer at Wego.
Planning to travel to Mecca? Make sure you read the updated travel guidelines.
