Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector delivered a significant early-year performance in 2025, registering 60.9 million visits by domestic and international tourists in the first half and generating tourism income of SAR 161.4 billion (approx.

USD 43.1 billion), according to data cited by the Ministry of Tourism.

Inbound tourists stayed an average of 6.7 nights in the Kingdom, while domestic visitors averaged 18.6 nights, reflecting deep engagement with the country’s travel offerings.

The leading inbound destinations were the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah; for domestic travel, Riyadh and the Eastern Province ranked highest.

International source markets included Egypt, Pakistan and Kuwait as the top three sending countries, with India and Indonesia also among major contributors.

In terms of accommodation, hotels accounted for 43 per cent of all stays — the remainder comprised furnished apartments and private residences.

The sharp rise in both visitor numbers and spending underscores Saudi Arabia’s progress under its Vision 2030 agenda, with tourism playing a growing role in economic diversification, job creation and infrastructure development.

Tourist demand extended beyond religious travel, as the Kingdom noted increased segments of leisure travel, shopping tourism and cultural-heritage engagement, especially in destinations such as the Red Sea, ‘Asir and Al Ula.

While the first-half gain of four per cent in revenue year-on-year may appear modest, it follows a backdrop of global turbulence and reflects a steady trajectory of tourism maturity.

For the remainder of 2025, sector watchers will monitor whether growth accelerates further and how the Kingdom harnesses this momentum to meet its target of 150 million annual visits and a meaningful contribution to GDP.