Page last updated: 29 October 2025
Saudi Arabia attracts millions of tourists annually due to its ancient desert landscapes, rich tapestry of cultural heritage, and natural wonders.
How many people visit Saudi Arabia each year?
Saudi Arabia attracts millions of tourists annually due to its ancient desert landscapes, rich tapestry of cultural heritage, and natural wonders.1
- Saudi Arabia welcomed 20.29 million international visitors in 2019. When the pandemic began in 2020, this number dropped by 76% to 4.88 million.
- By 2021, Saudi Arabia experienced a further 28.7% decline in international tourism with 3.48 million visitors.
- Inbound tourism rose to 16.4 million visitors in 2022, and this trend continued in 2023 with 27.4 million visitors, marking the highest number of visitors in history.
- Saudi Arabia recorded 29.73 million international visitors in 2024, 8.5% more than 2023 and 47% higher than 2019.
How many tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2025?
Saudi Arabia welcomed 9.6 million international tourists in the 1st quarter of 2025 (January – March), marking a 2% increase from the same period of last year.
- Most of the tourists came from Egypt (1.1 million), followed by Pakistan (0.8 million) and Kuwait (0.6 million)
- Makkah Province alone handled 6.9 million visitors.
- 50% of tourists visited for religious purposes.
How many tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2024?
- 29.73 million international tourists visited Saudi Arabia in 2024, marking a 8% increase from the previous year and a 47% increase from 2019 (pre-pandemic).
How much do tourists spend in Saudi Arabia every year?
International tourists spent over SAR168.5 billion during trips to Saudi Arabia in 2024.
- Inbound tourist expenditure in Saudi Arabia generated SAR103.35 billion in 2019. This number decreased to SAR20.1 billion in 2020 due to coronavirus travel restrictions and fewer international visitors. This dropped by 26% in 2021 to SAR14.72 billion.
- Saudi Arabia saw a recovery in international tourism revenue in 2022, reaching SAR98.29 billion.
- International tourism revenue continued to rise with SAR141.23 billion in 2023, marking the highest revenue in history (36.7% higher than the pre-pandemic year of 2019).
- Inbound tourism revenue reached SAR168.52 billion in 2024, 19% more than 2023 and 63% above 2019.
How much do tourists spend in Saudi Arabia in 2025?
- As of March 2025, international tourists spent SAR52 billion in Saudi Arabia, a 14% increase from the same period of last year.
How much do tourists spend in Saudi Arabia in 2024?
- International tourists spent SAR168.52 billion in Saudi Arabia in 2024, marking a 19.3% increase from the previous year and a 63.1% increase from 2019 (pre-pandemic).
How much does it cost to visit Saudi Arabia?
- Tourists visiting Saudi Arabia spent on average SAR 5,669 per trip in 2024, which includes their expenses on accommodation, dining, transportation, shopping, entertainment, and visits to religious and cultural sites across major destinations such as Mecca, Medina, Riyadh, and Jeddah.
Which countries visit Saudi Arabia the most?
The leading sources of foreign tourists to Saudi Arabia in 2024 were Egypt, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait and India.
- In 2024, Egypt was the top source of international visitors to Saudi Arabia, accounting for 3.19 million visits and holding a 10.7% market share. Pakistan also contributed significantly with 2.79 million tourists.
- Bahrain accounted for an 8.8% share with 2.61 million international visitors.
- Kuwait and India completed the top 5 with 2.11 million (7.1%) and 1.94 million (6.5%) international visitors
How long do visitors stay in Saudi Arabia?
- In 2024, domestic tourists spent 6.3 nights in Saudi Arabia while international tourists spent 19 nights.
- In 2022, domestic tourists spent 4.7 nights in Saudi Arabia while international tourists spent 16.7 nights.
- In 2020 and 2021, the average domestic tourist nightly stay was 5.3 nights and 5.54 nights, respectively.
Economic Impact – Saudi Arabia Tourism Statistics
Travel Spending by international visitors and domestic travelers rose by nearly 25% to SAR 283.8 billion. This was roughly 3.2% of Saudi Arabia’s nominal GDP in 2024 for direct tourism activity.2
- WTTC reported a total of 2.2 million jobs (direct + indirect) in 2024 and forecasted 2.7 million in 2025 supported by Travel & Tourism.
- In 2024, capital investment in travel & tourism was roughly SAR 172 billion, comprising new hotels, airports, cruise terminals, entertainment complexes, etc.
What were the peak tourist months in Saudi Arabia?
- March was the most popular month in 2024 with 3.2 million visitors, driven by the coincidence of the Formula 1 Saudi Grand Prix in Jeddah and the Ramadan/Umrah season.
- January, February and December closely followed with 3.1 million visitors each.
- April attracted 2.8 million visitors influenced by Ramadan and the start of Eid celebrations.
When is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia?
- The most comfortable period when visiting Saudi Arabia is from November to February, when cooler, milder weather makes outdoor sightseeing much easier.
- The “shoulder” seasons of October-November and March-April also work well: still pleasant climate, fewer crowds, and good for outdoor adventures.
- Summer (May to September) is generally best avoided for most inland travel due to very high temperatures, especially in desert areas; though coastal spots and mountain regions may still be viable.
How popular is Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination?
- According to UN Tourism, Saudi Arabia ranked 1st in 2023 in terms of growth, with a notable 56% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to 2019.
- According to the January 2024 World Tourism Barometer report, Saudi Arabia also achieved an impressive 156% tourism recovery rate in international arrivals compared to pre-pandemic levels.
- Saudi Arabia’s significant role in the Middle East’s tourism recovery stands out, with the region achieving a 122% recovery rate in international arrivals in 2023, surpassing pre-COVID-19 levels.
Saudi Arabia Travel Statistics for 2024 – International & Domestic Tourism
- Domestic travelers in Saudi Arabia accounted for 86.16 million in 2024, making up 74.3% of the total tourists, while international tourists amounted to 29.73 million.
- Domestic travelers spent SAR115.28 billion in 2024, while international tourists spent SAR168.52 billion.
What are the main reasons people visit Saudi Arabia?
Religious events, visiting friends and relatives, business trips, leisure, and other personal reasons are the main reasons why international tourists visit Saudi Arabia each year.
- In 2024, religious visits made up the majority, with 12.3 million visitors, mainly due to pilgrimages to Makkah and Medinah.
- Business travel was the second most popular reason, with 7.5 million visitors.
- Leisure travel accounted for a smaller but significant amount, with 5.9 million visitors.
- Visiting friends and relatives represented a smaller portion of visits, with 2 million visitors in 2024.
- Other personal reasons also accounted for 2 million visitors in 2024.
What are the most-visited provinces in Saudi Arabia?
Based on the latest data from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Tourism, the following are some of the top Saudi Arabia provinces that captivated the most international visitors in 2024.
- Makkah attracted 19.57 million visitors, renowned for its religious significance particularly Makkah.
- Eastern Saudi Arabia welcomed nearly 5 million visitors. The province is known for its industrial cities and developing tourism infrastructure.
- Riyadh welcomed 2.86 million visitors in 2024.
- The Northern Borders drew 528,000 visitors with its natural beauty and cultural sites.
- Medinah, another province with religious significance, welcomed 439,000 visitors in 2024.
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