The Riyadh region recorded 15.1 million domestic and international visitors by the end of the third quarter, highlighting the Kingdom’s expanding profile as a tourism destination.

According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, total tourist spending in the region reached approximately $8.8 billion during the period, reflecting an 18% increase compared with the same period last year.

Tourism development remains a central pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, as the Kingdom works to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on oil revenues. Under the National Tourism Strategy, Saudi Arabia is targeting 150 million visitors by the end of the decade.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Tourism said the Riyadh region posted growth across key tourism indicators in the third quarter of 2025, with the capital seeing a notable rise in visitor numbers and tourism spending.

The ministry also reported a 34% year-on-year increase in the number of tourist rooms in the Riyadh region during the third quarter, bringing the total to 50,000. The number of registered tour guides rose to 673, up 44% from the same period last year.

More broadly, domestic tourism spending across the Kingdom reached SR105 billion ($27.9 billion) by the end of the third quarter of 2025, up 18% year on year, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa bint Mohammed. Speaking at the Budget Forum 2026, she described tourism as one of the most promising drivers of economic diversification.

Data released earlier this year by the Saudi Central Bank showed that inbound tourism spending climbed to a record $40.9 billion in 2024, representing a 13.82% annual increase.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Development Fund recently signed six agreements and a memorandum of understanding with public and private sector entities during the Development Finance Conference Momentum 2025, with partnerships expected to have a combined impact exceeding $1 billion. The fund plays a key role in supporting tourism sector growth by expanding access to development finance and broadening the investment base.