Madinah tourism spending jumps 22%

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Prophet's Mosque, Madinah

Madinah welcomed more than 21 million visitors in 2025, a 16.7% year-on-year increase, while tourism spending surged 22% to SAR52 billion, underscoring robust momentum across the Holy City’s expanding tourism landscape.

Fueling this growth is the city’s rapidly expanding hospitality infrastructure, according to the latest Ministry of Tourism figures. The number of licensed hospitality facilities rose 35% last year to 610, while available rooms increased 24% to more than 76,000. At the same time, the number of travel and tourism agencies grew 29% to over 240, highlighting the sector’s increasingly robust ecosystem of support services.

As the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah, Madinah continues to draw millions of pilgrims each year to the Prophet’s Mosque and key heritage landmarks, such as Quba Mosque (the oldest mosque in Islamic history) and Mount Uhud, the site of the historic Battle of Uhud.

According to the Ministry, the latest performance results signal a shift from traditional, seasonally driven visitation to more sustainable, year-round growth, underpinned by diversified offerings, enhanced service quality and greater economic contribution.

Hilton debuts DoubleTree hotel in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Flyadeal launches 5 routes from new Madinah base

Over the past five years, global brands have accelerated their entry into Madinah’s hospitality market. Recent openings include the DoubleTree by Hilton Madinah Gate, a 325-key property anchoring the Madinah Gate project at Knowledge Economic City (KEC); the Tapestry Collection by Hilton; and the Radisson Hotel Madinah, an upscale addition with 165 keys, including 53 business suites, a restaurant and a poolside juice bar.

Industry leaders say investor confidence continues to rise. “The landscape today is different. The sector is growing steadily, and there is a system in place that empowers investors and facilitates their journey. The future holds even greater promise,” said Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb.

Looking ahead, more than 252,000 hotel rooms are planned or under construction across Makkah and Madinah by 2030, much of it catering to the high-end and luxury segment in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Render: Four Seasons Hotel Madinah

This year, the Holy City will see several anticipated openings, including the 383-room Crowne Plaza Madinah, located near the Prophet’s Mosque, and the Four Seasons Hotel Madinah, featuring 246 rooms and suites inspired by Islamic architecture and the spiritual heritage of the mosque.

Further development milestones include KEC’s expansion plans to deliver 11,000 hotel rooms by 2029 and ultimately 42,000 keys, alongside the Rua Al Madinah Project, expected to add more than 47,000 new rooms by 2030, significantly increasing capacity around the city centre.

Enhancing air connectivity, Saudi low-cost carrier Flyadeal recently launched five new routes from its new operational base in Madinah. The expansion adds direct links to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and four domestic destinations – Jazan, Tabuk, Al Hofuf and Abha – further improving access to one of the Kingdom’s fastest-growing tourism hubs.

For more information, visit mt.gov.sa