Saudi Arabia’s tourism incubator graduates 30 startups driving sector innovation

Saudi Arabia has completed the first edition of its Grow Tourism Incubator, graduating 30 startups as part of efforts to strengthen the tourism entrepreneurship ecosystem and accelerate innovation across the sector.

The program, led by the Tourism Development Fund’s (TDF) non-financial enablement arm, TDF Grow, in partnership with Almosafer, concluded with the Grow Tourism Incubator Mixer, which brought together investors, entrepreneurs, strategic partners, and public and private sector stakeholders.

The incubator is part of TDF’s broader strategy to support tourism-focused startups through mentorship, business development services, capacity-building programs, and access to investors and industry partners. The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy and Vision 2030, which positions entrepreneurship and private-sector participation as key drivers of the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions.

Over a ten-month period, the inaugural cohort supported 30 startups, including 20 through an in-person track and 10 via a virtual program. Participants received more than 230 business development sessions, over 20 specialized workshops, 35 training sessions, and 30 service grants to help early-stage companies strengthen operations and prepare for growth.

The program also included an international learning visit to H-Farm in Italy, exposing founders to global best practices in entrepreneurship and innovation and helping them refine strategies for scaling their businesses.

Qusai Al-Fakhri, Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Development Fund, said, “The Grow Tourism Incubator represents a practical example of the Fund’s role in empowering startups and entrepreneurs within the tourism sector by providing specialized knowledge, mentorship, and access to investors and strategic partners.”

He added, “We are proud of the progress achieved by the participating companies throughout the incubation journey and their readiness to advance to the next stage of growth, reflecting the significant potential of Saudi Arabia’s tourism entrepreneurship ecosystem.”

The startups span a broad cross-section of the tourism economy, including tourism technology, digital platforms, visitor experience solutions, cultural and heritage tourism, AI-powered innovations, and new tourism products and services.

The program concluded with startup presentations and networking sessions that enabled founders to engage directly with investors and ecosystem partners, creating opportunities for future funding and strategic collaborations.