122.6 million. That is how many domestic and inbound tourists Saudi Arabia recorded in 2025, the highest figure the sector has ever posted and roughly 6% more than in 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism's annual statistical report carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The total builds on a milestone the Kingdom reached in 2023, when it passed 100 million tourists seven years before the date set under Vision 2030. The ministry then raised its goal to 150 million tourists by 2030. The latest report breaks the year down as follows:
- Spending: tourists spent about SAR304 billion in total, a record and 7% higher than the year before.
- Domestic travel: 93.3 million residents travelled within the Kingdom and spent around SAR127.1 billion.
- Visitors from abroad: 29.3 million inbound tourists spent SAR176.6 billion.
- Reasons to visit: trips for purposes other than religion made up about 52% of inbound overnight visitors, up from 44% in 2019.
- Jobs: tourism industries employed nearly 1.03 million people, and Saudi women held around 47% of Saudi jobs in core tourism activities, compared with 5% at the end of 2018.
- Balance of payments: the travel account posted a surplus of SAR49.4 billion, more than 61% of all services exports.
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the results show tourism turning into a high-impact engine for the economy, crediting the support and direction of the Kingdom's leadership. The sector contributed 4.9% of GDP directly in 2024, a share that grew 14% on the previous year.
