| Mega projects and 2022-23 growth surge give Dubai’s tourism sector a strong head start
Dubai’s tourism industry has begun the year 2023 on a bright note with vital growth indicators closing in on pre-pandemic levels, giving the emirate a head start in the race to achieve its strategic long-term targets over the next decade. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s domestic tourism remains strong despite return of international travel
Despite the full resumption of international travel, domestic tourism continues to remain strong in Saudi Arabia, according to Almosafer, the Kingdom’s leading company in the sector. |
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| Saudi Tourism Authority signs MoU with Visa to develop region’s first tourism data lab
A first-of-its-kind tourism data lab is set for the Middle East after Saudi Arabia reached an agreement with global digital payment solution provider Visa to travel trends insights. |
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| Tourist spending in the UAE jumps 70% to $33bn in 2022 as sector rebounds
With global travel returning to pre-pandemic levels, the UAE saw tourist spending rise 70 percent in 2022 to reach 121 billion dirhams ($33 billion), compared to $18.8 billion the year before, according to the ruler of Dubai. |
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| Saudi Arabia offers 50 investment opportunities worth over $25bn in machinery, equipment sector
Saudi Arabia will offer 50 investment opportunities worth over $25 billion in the machinery and equipment sector as part of its strategy to promote private participation in the Kingdom’s economic diversification plan, a top minister has revealed. |
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| Tourism Development Fund signs deal with Al Nahla Group to develop destinations in Saudi Arabia
Tourism in Jeddah, Taif, and Madinah is set to receive a boost after an agreement was struck between the sector’s development fund and Saudi firm Al Nahla Group to create new projects. |
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| Riyadh’s hotel occupancy hits 75.5%, highest since 2008: STR
Riyadh’s hotel occupancy rate hit 75.5 percent in February, the highest figure since 2008 according to preliminary data from hotel industry monitoring firm STR. |
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| New visas, Dubai landmarks: 3 reasons why tourism is booming in the emirate
Tourism in Dubai is booming, and how! According to the latest statistics released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the Emirate is closing in on its pre-Covid visitor numbers. |
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| Saudi tourism sector spending surges 93% to hit $49bn in 2022, minister reveals
Saudi Arabia’s tourism spending surged 93 percent in 2022 to hit SR185 billion ($49 billion), up from SR95.6 billion in 2021, as the Kingdom continues to diversify its economy as part of Vision 2030. |
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| Saudi Arabia aims to boost tourism sector through 10 new regulations
Saudi Arabia has initiated 10 new policies aimed at expanding the tourism sector and protecting tourists, according to the Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. |
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| International tourist arrivals in Saudi Arabia up 575% to 3.6m in Q2: MISA
Tourists continued to flock to Saudi Arabia in the second quarter of 2022, with the Kingdom seeing a huge 575.4 percent increase on the same period a year earlier. |
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| NEOM faces no obstacles to making The Line a reality as KSA has the vision: Top official
NEOM is facing no difficulties or obstacles in materializing The Line, the 170-kilometer smart city, as Saudi Arabia is determined to make it a reality, according to a top official. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund signs partnership agreement with Hilton
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund signed an agreement with Hilton on Tuesday to promote strategic partnerships between the two entities. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund launches program to support 10,000 SMEs
The Saudi Tourism Development Fund announced the launch of the Tourism Aid program to support 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency reported. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Morocco sign deal to enhance cooperation in tourism
Saudi Arabia and Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to encourage and develop cooperation in tourism, and coordinate efforts to achieve the sustainable development of the industry in both countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund allocates $266m to back 50 projects, reveals minister
The Saudi Tourism Development Fund has allocated SR1 billion ($266 million) to back up to 50 medium and small projects the Kingdom’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khatib has announced. |
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| Bahrain secures $291m tourism sector investments in 2022
The Bahrain Economic Development Board has secured 110 million Bahraini dinars ($291 million) in direct investment in the tourism sector during the first nine months of 2022, according to a statement. |
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| Aramco beats expectations with record quarterly profit of $42bn
Saudi Aramco’s profit has surged 39 percent in the third quarter of 2022, surpassing the average of analysts’ forecasts. |
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| Oman announces visa-free entry for GCC residents
All GCC residents can now enter the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Airports announced on Wednesday. |
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| Saudia continues departure phase of Hajj pilgrims
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) has begun transporting Hajj pilgrims to their homes after completing their rituals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. |
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| Jeddah hotels occupancy touches 64% in May, highest since September 2019
The hotel industry in Jeddah has reported its highest performance level since September 2019, with the occupancy rate touching 64 percent in May, according to preliminary data released by global hospitality insight provider STR. |
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| Saudi commerce minister visits Madinah Museum preserving Islamic heritage
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce and Acting Minister of Media Majid al-Qasabi |
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| Saudi Arabia to spend $100m to train 100,000 locals to join tourism sector
Saudi Arabia has allocated $100 million to provide training for 100,000 people to work in the tourism and sustainability sector, as the Kingdom continues its steady journey to become a global tourism hub by the end of this decade, according to the tourism minister. |
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| Tourism direct contribution to Saudi GDP fell to 1.7% in 2020
Tourism direct contribution to Saudi GDP fell to 1.7 percent in 2020, official data showed. |
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| Saudi tourism sees 130% recovery in Q1 compared to pre-pandemic levels, authority CEO says
As a recovery in Saudi tourism continues, the first quarter of 2022 has witnessed over 130 percent of growth in the sector, compared to pre-pandemic levels, the CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority said during the Arabian Travel Market event. |
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| Saudi Tourism Development Fund approves tourism projects worth $400m
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund approved six strategic tourism projects worth SR1.5 billion ($400 million) in the first quarter of 2022, Argaam has reported. |
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| Saudi Arabia to invest $100m in Tourism Support Fund alongside World Bank: Minister
Saudi Arabia has vowed to dedicate $100 million to establish the Tourism Support Fund in collaboration with the World Bank, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khatib, the minister of tourism. |
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| Saudi Tourism Ministry, PNU launch English and French tourism diplomas
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism has announced the launch of two new higher diploma programs in tourism, in partnership with the Deanship of Postgraduate Studies at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. |
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| Saudi Arabia reinstates visa on arrival for holders of US, UK, Schengen visas
Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that it had reinstated the visa on arrival program that allows holders of valid visas from the US, UK and Schengen area to enter the country. |
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| Tourism to contribute 15% to Saudi $1.86tn economy by 2030
Saudi Arabia sees tourism leading to contribute more to its GDP by 2030, which is predicted to hit $1.86 trillion, as it plans to move away from oil. |
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| Emirates signs agreement with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote tourism
Emirates has pledged its support to promoting tourism in Thailand through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). |
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| Saudi Tourism Authority and Emirates Airline sign strategic tourism MoU
The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost inbound tourism into Saudi Arabia and attract new segments of travellers across the airline’s extensive global network. |
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| Soudah Development eyes 2 million annual visitors over 3,000 meters above sea level: Year in Review
It has been a busy year for Souda Development, after the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund said that a new firm would turn the mountain destination in the Asir region into a world-class luxury resort. |
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| EU still lists Kuwait among safe countries for travel
Kuwait is among a short list of countries whose residents can still travel to Europe without restrictions. |
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| Saudi tourism fund invests $533m on various projects in over a year
Saudi Arabia's Tourism Development Fund said on Monday it had deployed SR2 billion ($533 million) on tourism projects worth a total of around SR6 billion since its establishment last year until the end of September this year. |
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| UK welcomes more UAE travellers by adding Sinopharm and Covaxin to approved vaccines list
The UK said it will recognise all Covid-19 vaccines on the World Health Organisation's emergency use list this month. |
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| Saudi tourism sector set to shine, says CEO of STA
Visitors to Saudi Arabia are expected to double, according to a recent statement made by the Saudi Tourism Authority to AlArabiya on the sidelines of a travel trade event in London. |
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| Saudi Arabia to host World Travel and Tourism Council summit next year
Riyadh has been chosen to host the 22nd Global Summit of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTCC) next year. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister calls for a unified travel protocol post-COVID
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed al-Khateeb called for unified travel protocols at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit in Riyadh, in a session titled ‘Future of Tourism - Global Perspectives,’ on Tuesday. |
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| Weak tourism to weigh on Dubai economy until late 2022, says S&P report
Dubai is set for a "modest" recovery this year on the back of a high vaccination rate in the United Arab Emirates and limited COVID-19 restrictions, but weak international tourism will drag on the economy until late 2022, S&P Global Ratings said. |
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| World’s largest eco-tourism project, TRDSC, to takeover its neighbor: CEO
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is combining two giga project developers on the Red Sea coast to “leverage synergies” as the Kingdom goes ahead with ambitious tourism goals. |
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| Kuwait Touristic to increase capital to $996m in bid to boost tourism
Kuwait Touristic Enterprises plans to increase its capital by 250 million dinars ($831.39 million) to 300 million, as it looks to reinvigorate tourism in the oil-rich country, its chief executive said. |
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| Dubai Tourism continues to drive recovery with new phase of global campaign
Dubai welcomed 2.85 million international overnight visitors from January to July 2021, further accelerating momentum in this landmark year of Expo 2020 and the UAE Golden Jubilee, the latest industry data by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has revealed. |
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| UAE outstrips global tourism trends in H1
The UAE has outperformed depressing global trends in tourism arrivals in the first half of 2021 with the decline in its hotel occupancy rates appearing less severe compared to other markets, according to findings of a study released on Tuesday. |
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| Saudi Hajj ministry offers Umrah permits to 12 to 18-year-olds who have taken two vaccine doses
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that local pilgrims aged from 12 to 18 can obtain Umrah permits if they have received two vaccine doses. |
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| Saudi Arabia documents 14 archaeological sites of historical heritage
The Saudi Heritage Authority has announced the registration and documentation of 14 archeological sites representing significant historical heritage of the Kingdom in the second quarter of 2021. |
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| Mena hotel occupancy rises amid easing travel curbs
Hotel occupancy in the Middle East North Africa region continues to improve amid easing travel restrictions, Colliers said in its latest report, while cautioning that controlled and consistent growth is the key to recovery. |
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| Abu Dhabi hotel occupancy at highest since start of pandemic
Abu Dhabi’s hotel industry reported its highest occupancy since the start of the pandemic, according to STR. |
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| Emirates expects over 450,000 passengers passing through Dubai over next two weekends
Emirates airline is expecting more than 450,000 passengers to travel from, to and through Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport over the course of the next two weekends on over 1,600 flights. The busiest days for the airline will be the next two weekends, 2-3 July and 9-10 July, although high passenger traffic is expected to start on June 30, and will run through 12 July. |
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| Saudi and Tunisian ministers discuss cooperation in tourism
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb met Tunisian Tourism Minister Habib Ammar in the Tunisian capital on Monday. During the meeting, the two ministers reviewed bilateral relations. They discussed ways to boost ties and increase cooperation in the field of tourism. |