Saudi Arabia's travel and tourism sector expanded by 7.4 percent in 2025, reaching about $178 billion and growing at nearly twice the global rate. The Kingdom outperformed both the worldwide average and the broader Middle East region, strengthening its position as the region's largest tourism market and accounting for nearly half of its total sector activity.

The surge is driven by heavy investment in major tourism projects, infrastructure, and connectivity under the Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond oil. Having already exceeded its original goal of 100 million visitors, Saudi Arabia is now aiming to attract 150 million visitors annually by the end of the decade.

International visitor spending rose 8.2 percent, well above the global average, with business travel emerging as a particularly strong contributor, increasing by more than 55 percent. The sector's rapid growth highlights the Kingdom's rising status as a global destination for tourism, business, and large-scale events.