GCC tourism reaches $254 billion as international arrivals climb to 89.9 million

Tourism generated more than $254 billion across the GCC in 2025, as visitor numbers and tourism spending continued to rise, according to the GCC Statistical Centre.

The report, titled Strategic Tourism Ambition in the GCC Countries, found that direct and indirect economic activity linked to tourism accounted for 11.4% of regional GDP and supported around 4.5 million jobs across the six countries during the year.

These figures place the region on track to achieving the Gulf’s 2030 tourism ambitions. By the end of 2025, the GCC had achieved an average of 73.8% of the six targets as set out under the Gulf Tourism Strategy 2022–2030.

The gains were driven by increases in international visitor numbers, tourism spending, the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) and direct employment.

International arrivals reached 89.9 million, up 3.1% from the previous year, and put the region at 69.9% of its 2030 target of 128.7 million visitors. Spending by international tourists reached $131.9 billion, or 70.2% of the region’s $188 billion target, up 9.7% from a year earlier.

Domestic tourism is also closing in on its 2030 goal. Domestic tourist spending reached $42.9 billion in 2025, up 6.2% from the previous year and equivalent to 87.6% of the GCC’s $49 billion target.

As visitor activity and spending increased, the sector’s contribution to the wider economy also grew. Direct travel and tourism GDP rose 8.8% year-on-year to $101.7 billion, reaching 69.8% of the GCC’s $145.8 billion target for 2030.

Tourism’s direct share of GCC GDP increased to 4.6%, up 7% from 2024. The Gulf Tourism Strategy aims to raise that contribution to 6.5% by 2030.

The sector also created more jobs. Direct tourism employment reached 2.2 million in 2025, an annual increase of 5.6% and 74.7% of the region’s 2030 target of approximately 2.9 million jobs. Including indirect employment, tourism supported around 4.5 million jobs across the GCC.

The growth has strengthened the GCC’s position in the global tourism market. The six countries accounted for 5% of international tourism and 6.9% of global tourism receipts in 2025, according to the report.

In terms of ease of international mobility, the report indicated that the GCC countries occupy the top six positions among Arab countries for passport strength, according to the Henley Passport Index 2026.

Compared with 2016, GCC passports recorded cumulative improvements in their rankings ranging from 6 to 36 places as of 16 July 2026.

With most of its 2030 tourism targets already within reach, the GCC continues to build on rising visitor numbers, higher spending, and tourism’s growing economic contribution. The gains are reinforcing the sector’s role in the region’s broader economic diversification strategy.