Saudi Arabia registered more than 18 million international arrivals in the first nine months of 2022, higher than any other Arab nation during that timeframe, according to reports.
Saudi’s 18 million visitors was followed by the UAE recording over 14 million tourists.
The news is likely welcome by Saudi authorities, who are targeting over 100 million by the end of the decade – a number that once seemed unfathomable for the Kingdom.
Tourism spending in Saudi hit $7.2 billion in the first half of 2022.
The period does not cover the World Cup, in which neighboring Qatar hosted millions from around the world – but Saudi Arabia benefitted from a spillover effect of tourists and fans seeking additional accommodation.
Behind the push to attract more tourists and visitors is big spending by the Saudi government on sports and entertainment, construction and development of places to visit and new airports across the country. An increasingly relaxed and open Saudi society is helping, too.
The Kingdom is also investing in its aviation industry beyond rehabilitating existing airports and building new, ambitious hubs like the one planned for Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is also in the development stages of a new airline, RIA, which will seek to compete with Qatar, Etihad, and Emirates.
Many of the Kingdom’s tourism destinations of the future are under construction and seeing strong progress. The Red Sea area of Saudi Arabia’s west coast will start welcoming visitors in a matter of months.
