Saudi Arabia's Tourism Boom Adds 358,000 Hotel Rooms

Saudi Arabia is opening its doors wider than ever before, and travelers are responding with overwhelming enthusiasm.

The kingdom is planning to add 358,000 hotel rooms across the country, with 94,500 already under construction. This massive expansion comes after the travel and tourism sector grew by an impressive 32 percent, signaling a dramatic shift in how the world views this Middle Eastern nation.

Tourism contributed $118 billion to Saudi Arabia's economy in 2024, representing over 11 percent of the country's total GDP. That's the highest tourism share in the entire region, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council.

The numbers tell a story of transformation. In 2024, nearly 30 million international visitors arrived in Saudi Arabia, up 8 percent from the previous year. Domestic travel also flourished, with 86 million Saudi residents exploring their own country.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this growth particularly exciting is how it's diversifying beyond religious tourism. While 1.8 million Hajj pilgrims and 35.7 million Umrah pilgrims visited holy sites, non-religious travelers now make up 59 percent of all international arrivals. That's up from just 44 percent in 2019, a remarkable 127 percent increase in this segment alone.

Holiday and leisure travel generated nearly $10 billion in 2024. Visitors came from across Asia, with Egypt, Pakistan, and Bahrain leading the way. People are discovering Saudi Arabia's cooler mountain towns like Abha and Taif, exploring ancient heritage sites at Al-Ula, and enjoying extended stays in modern cities like Riyadh and Jeddah.

The hospitality expansion focuses on quality alongside quantity. Four mega-projects are leading the charge: Rua Al Haram will add over 70,000 rooms near Makkah, while Rua Al Madinah plans 47,000 more. By 2030, three-quarters of Saudi hotel rooms will be luxury or upscale properties, matching traveler preferences, as 83 percent say they prefer four or five-star accommodations.

Domestic tourism is booming too. Nearly one-third of Saudi nationals travel within the country every two to three months. About 36 percent prefer long weekend getaways, while wealthier travelers often take week-long vacations to explore their homeland's diverse landscapes and growing entertainment options.

The kingdom has already revised its 2030 visitor target upward from 100 million to 150 million people, reflecting confidence in this momentum. With 250,000 Saudis relocating to Riyadh since 2019 for new job opportunities, the internal economy is strengthening alongside tourism growth.

This tourism transformation is creating thousands of jobs, building world-class infrastructure, and opening a historically closed nation to curious travelers seeking new experiences.