Saudi Arabia’s domestic tourism up 16%

Saudi Arabia has recorded 28.9 million domestic trips in Q1 2026, up 16% year-on-year, and domestic tourism spending totalled SAR34.7 billion (US$9.3 billion), up 8%, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Tourism. 

Total tourism volume, including international visitors, reached 37.2 million trips, with overall spending at SAR82.7 billion (US$22.1 billion). Hospitality occupancy averaged 59%, with the highest rates in Madinah (82%), followed by Makkah (60%) and Jeddah (59%).

Domestic travel from 18 February to 19 March 2026, spanning Ramadan to Eid, reached around 10 million trips, up 14% year-on-year, with spending totalling SAR10.2 billion (US$2.7 billion).

Separate data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) shows hotel occupancy at 57.3% in Q4 2025, up from 56% in 2024.

Hotel pricing declined, with average daily rates (ADR) falling 11.7% year-on-year to SAR389 (US$104) in Q4, while serviced apartment rates decreased 5.7% to SAR207 (US$55). 

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The number of licensed tourist accommodation facilities rose 34.2% year-on-year to 5,900 in Q4, with serviced apartments accounting for 52% of total inventory and hotels 48%.

GASTAT figures also show average hotel stays increased to 3.8 nights in Q4 2025, up from 3.6 nights a year earlier, while serviced apartment stays averaged 2.2 nights.

Saudi is scaling its tourism pipeline ahead of major events. The Saudi Tourism Authority has partnered with Expo 2030 Riyadh to integrate travel packages and drive visitor flows, with the event expected to attract 40 million site visits.

The country has set a revised target of 150 million annual visitors by 2030, up from a previous target of 100 million. 

Tourism contributed 5% to the country’s GDP in 2025, with a target of 10% by the end of the decade, according to official figures, and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has ranked Saudi Arabia among the fastest-growing tourism markets globally.

For more information, visit www.mt.gov.sa