Saudi Arabia Welcomes Record 123 Million Tourists in 2025

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Riyadh: Saudi Arabia welcomed a record 122.9 million domestic and international tourists in 2025, as tourism continued to emerge as a major driver of the Kingdom’s non-oil economy.

According to the Ministry of Tourism’s Annual Statistical Report, total tourism spending reached an all-time high of SR304 billion ($81 billion), marking a 7% increase from the previous year. Tourist numbers rose by about 6% compared with 2024.

The Kingdom received 29.3 million international visitors, while domestic tourism accounted for 93.3 million trips. More than half of overnight foreign visitors travelled for non-religious purposes, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing appeal beyond traditional pilgrimage tourism.

Tourism's contribution to the economy also expanded, with the sector directly accounting for 4.9% of Saudi Arabia’s GDP. The industry supported nearly 1.03 million jobs in 2025, while women made up around 47% of Saudi nationals working in tourism-related activities.

Officials said the figures reflect the success of Vision 2030, the country's economic diversification programme, which has driven major investments in tourism infrastructure, hospitality, technology and destination development.