Saudi Arabia welcomes 61.2 million tourists in 6 months with spending of 152 billion riyals - Sarmad
The Minister of Tourism announced the arrival of 61.2 million tourists and spending of 152 billion riyals in the first half of 2026
Translated by Qiyas from سرمد — Original source
Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib announced that the Kingdom welcomed approximately 61.2 million tourists during the first half of 2026, marking an increase of nearly 9% compared to the same period last year, with total tourism spending reaching around 151.9 billion riyals.
Al-Khatib emphasized that Saudi Arabia continues to work toward its target of welcoming 150 million tourists annually by 2030, driven by the expansion of tourist destinations, diversification of offerings, and increased investments in the hospitality sector.
The minister’s remarks came during the opening of the “Land of Saudi Arabia” pavilion at the World Travel Market (WTM 2026) in London, the UK capital, with participation from 37 partners from Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem, and in the presence of Aqeel Al-Shaybani, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, and Rachel Travitz, CEO of RX Global, the organizer of the event.
