Tag Archives: Saudi Arabia

In an exclusive interview with TravTalk Middle East, Naif Hassan Awlia, Tourism and Engagement Director of Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, shared insights into the destination’s debut at ITB China. Representing Diriyah for the first time at the event, Awlia emphasized the strategic importance of China as a key source market, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader tourism vision. “As part of Diriyah’s tourism ecosystem, we closely follow the National Tourism Strategy,” Awlia explained. “China is a priority market for us. With the Kingdom targeting 150 million visitors annually by 2030, 5 million of those are expected to come from China—and we intend to play a significant role in achieving that goal.” He highlighted the purpose of their participation at ITB China: to connect with leading travel trade partners, including platforms such as Alibaba and Trip.com, and tailor their offerings to resonate with Chinese travellers. “We’re here not only to tell our story but to understand and align with the narrative that appeals to the Chinese market,” he concluded.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb officially launched TOURISE , a bold new global platform designed to shape a new horizon and plot a shared roadmap for the next 50 years of tourism. Built for ambition and backed by vision, TOURISE will convene a dynamic cross-section of public and private sector industry giants for the first time. Visionary leaders with tourism, technology, investment, sustainability, and cultural expertise will be connected to tackle critical challenges, unlock transformative opportunities and set the agenda for a sector that is sustainable, equitable and future-focused. Along with global partners from multilateral institutions to private sector leaders, TOURISE is designed to unlock major, unprecedented deal flow, with high-value investment opportunities and access to breakthrough technologies set to be announced and activated through the platform. TOURISE is no ordinary event; it is a global platform structured for year-round impact at scale through digital collaboration, thematic working groups, and cross-sector partnerships focused on long-term sector transformation. This will include authoring a series of white papers and global indices focused on tourism, sustainability and global economy, co-developed with leading international organizations, setting new benchmarks for the tourism sector. The inaugural TOURISE Summit will take place in Riyadh from November 11 to 13, 2025. The program, which will also be livestreamed, will focus on four core themes: The Future of AI-Powered Tourism – Innovate or Fade; The Great Tourism Reset – Disruptive Business Models and Investment; Rebooting the Travel Experience – Upgrade in Progress; and Tourism that Works – for People, Planet, and Progress. A dedicated Innovation Zone will showcase breakthrough technologies and solutions from SMEs and mid to large corporations spanning AI, mobility, sustainability, and more …

In an exclusive interview with TravelTV Middle East, Saurabh Tiwari – Area Director Middle East & CIS, Taj Hotels part of IHCL  shared that there are two hotels in the pipeline for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One will be in the cultural capital of Diriyah Gate in Riyadh with 200 rooms whilst the other will be in Mecca with an inventory of 350 rooms. ” Saudi Arabia is growing at a phenomenal pace—it’s already among the world’s top 20 economies and is well on its way to breaking into the top 10. With numerous giga projects underway and nearly a trillion-dollar economy, the momentum is unstoppable. The opportunities here are vast; it’s not just one runway, but six major runways of growth and potential. The future truly looks bright. As for Taj Hotels, we currently operate three exceptional properties in Dubai. Now that we’re well-established there and our growth in India has been remarkable, we’ve turned our attention to Saudi Arabia. We’ve already signed two hotels—one in the holy city of Mecca and another in Riyadh. We’re actively engaging with promising partners and like-minded investors who recognize the strength of our brand. And it’s not just about Taj—it’s also about the power of Brand India. There’s a strong Indian diaspora here in Riyadh, over 1.7 million people, not to mention the countless pilgrims from the subcontinent who visit Saudi Arabia. They know our brand, they trust it, and they connect with it. We’re confident that Taj will thrive in Saudi Arabia, and we’re incredibly excited about what’s ahead.”

In a strategic move to bring soulful, modern living to the forefront of Jeddah’s urban landscape, Baraka for Real Estate Development and Investment Company Ltd has signed a milestone agreement with global lifestyle hospitality operator Kerten Hospitality to launch The House Residence Al Salam District in Jeddah. The House Residence is set within Al Salam District, Baraka’s flagship mixed-use development spanning 45,000 square meters of land. With a diverse offering of 38 one-bedroom apartments, 58 two-bedroom apartments, and 17 three-bedroom villas, The House Residence Al Salam District delivers a new dimension of integrated living and immersive hospitality that blends contemporary design with local heritage. This marks a pivotal step in realising the company’s long-term vision of community-driven, culturally rich destinations that transform how people live, work, and connect. “At Baraka, our purpose is to shape urban spaces that are deeply human, where design meets purpose, and where community and culture define the experience,” said Ebrahim Alqassab, Projects Director at Baraka. “Al Salam District is not just a development; it is a statement of our belief in building vibrant, sustainable environments. The House Residence Al Salam District is a key expression of this vision and a major milestone in our journey toward redefining urban life in Saudi Arabia.” With a diverse offering of 38 one-bedroom apartments, 58 two-bedroom apartments, and 17 three-bedroom villas, The House Residence Al Salam District delivers a new dimension of integrated living and immersive hospitality that blends contemporary design with local heritage. The project reflects a shared philosophy between Baraka and Kerten Hospitality—one that values authenticity, lifestyle integration, and placemaking as central to hospitality. As a dynamic cultural centre, positioned to be the pulsating heart of Jeddah, Al …

In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia taking place in Riyadh with TravTalkME as media partner, Knight Frank has released that 73% of buyers with families prefer branded residences for long-term living in their study about the surging demand for branded residences in the Kingdom. The report titled “Destination Saudi, branded residences in focus,” discusses the strong momentum branded residences are gaining in Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector, with 68 percent of expat buyers surveyed saying they are likely to purchase a branded residence in the Kingdom. Millennials are leading this demand, and hotel-branded residences are their top choice—especially among high earners with household incomes above SAR 40,000 per month. Key highlights from the report include: • 73% of buyers with families prefer branded residences for long-term living • 52% are interested primarily for investment purposes • Preferred locations include Riyadh (48%), Jeddah (33%), and NEOM (29%) • Expat respondents expect to spend a combined SAR 630 million on branded residential assets • A majority of buyers prioritise design, service, and proximity to business districts and schools As Saudi Arabia continues its urban and hospitality transformation, this emerging asset class offers strong potential for investors and developers looking to meet evolving lifestyle expectations and has a dedicated track at FHS Saudi Arabia with sessions about market trends, legal frameworks, investor strategies and global buyer behaviour.  

flyadeal is expanding its regional network this summer to cover Istanbul’s secondary airport Sabiha Gökçen and Alexandria, the airline’s fourth destination in Egypt. Saudi Arabia’s fast growing low-cost airline will launch daily scheduled flights between Riyadh and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport located on the Asian side of Istanbul on 29 May. These will complement flyadeal’s popular services from both the Saudi capital and Jeddah to the primary Istanbul Airport on the city’s European side. Beginning  2 June the historical port city of Alexandria will be served four-times-a-week from Jeddah. With the addition of Alexandria, flyadeal strengthens operations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt – its largest international market – to 69 weekly frequencies covering Cairo, Sohag and seasonal flights to Sharm El Sheikh from Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam.

Hospitality Management Holdings (HMH) announced a major expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with the addition of new properties and ambitious development plans aimed at supporting the country’s growing tourism sector. As part of its strategic growth initiative, HMH has signed an agreement to operate the Corp Al Khobar Corniche Hotel, a 157-room property overlooking the Khobar waterfront in the Eastern Province and a memorandum of understanding for a new Dammam hotel development. The hotel, previously under Accor’s Mercure brand, will now join HMH’s expanding portfolio, further strengthening the company’s footprint in Saudi Arabia. This milestone comes as HMH prepares to open its flagship 460-room hotel in Makkah by mid-2025. Set to begin operations after the Hajj season, the Makkah property is expected to serve as a cornerstone in HMH’s faith-based tourism offerings, catering to the millions of pilgrims who travel to the holy city annually. Additional developments are also underway across the Kingdom, reinforcing HMH’s commitment to meeting the surging demand for quality hospitality solutions. Mr. Haytham Abdelaziz, Chief Operating Officer of HMH, emphasized the strategic significance of Saudi Arabia in the group’s expansion roadmap: “Saudi Arabia is a strategic priority for HMH, fully aligned with Vision 2030’s transformative tourism goals and the rising demand for premium accommodation. The Al Khobar property strengthens our presence in the Eastern Province, while our forthcoming Makkah hotel will place us at the heart of religious tourism. With over 6,000 rooms currently operational or in development across the region, we remain deeply committed to supporting the Kingdom’s target of attracting 150 million annual visitors by 2030.” The Corp Al Khobar Corniche Hotel will cater to a diverse clientele, including corporate travelers and …

With Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in the Asia-Pacific market, PATA signaled readiness to support the Kingdom with market intelligence and regional insights. While acknowledging Saudi’s robust in-house expertise, PATA highlighted its value as a connector offering knowledge from decades of Asia-focused tourism development. The collaboration could involve joint projects, knowledge sharing, and practical guidance to help Saudi adapt its tourism products for Asian travelers.

With just under a month to go before the Future Hospitality Summit Saudi Arabia gets under way, investors, developers, government decision makers and regional hospitality leaders are gearing up for three days of networking, learning, debate and deal making in Riyadh with TravTalkME as media partner. Nearly 300 investors – almost one in four of all delegates – attended last year’s event, which created more than US$1.1 billion worth of business opportunities and saw 17 deals signed. With KSA’s hospitality and tourism transformation in full swing in line with Vision 2030, the stage is set for a wealth of new partnerships, signings and collaborations at FHS Saudi Arabia 2025. In the run up to FHS Saudi Arabia, I spoke to leaders from Taiba Investments, Al Khozama Investment Company, Baraka and AlNahla Group for their take on investing in KSA. Read on for insight on where these investors are heading, the importance of hospitality projects to Saudi’s overall real estate offering, how tourism targets can be met and what excites them most about KSA’s future tourism offering. With unprecedented expansion in real estate, tourism and hospitality in KSA, the opportunities for investment are seemingly endless. What are investors focusing on in terms of location and asset class? Taiba Investments is looking to solidify its position in the hospitality and real state sectors and aiming for sustainable growth by expanding in key hubs like Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah to elevate KSA’s status as a premier global destination. The company is looking to strategically expand its portfolio with several hotel openings, such as Rixos Obhur Jeddah, Makarem Burj Al Madinah, Crowne Plaza Takhassusi, Sheraton Madinah, Novotel Madinah and Riyadh Marriott Hotel Mursalat. …

Saudi Arabia has set new records in tourism recording its highest surplus in the travel account of the balance of payments in 2024 estimated at SAR 49.8 billion—a growth of approximately 7.8% compared to 2023. This impressive performance was driven by a 13.8% increase in inbound visitor spending compared to 2023, with total inbound visitor spending reaching an estimated SAR 153.6 billion in 2024, according to balance of payments preliminary data issued by the Saudi Central Bank. The Ministry of Tourism explained that the significant growth in the travel account surplus in 2024 reflects the efforts of the Ministry and other entities of the Saudi Tourism Ecosystem to strengthen the tourism industry and its contribution to national economic growth. It also underlines the successful measures taken to elevate the sector to global leadership by implementing best practices in tourism development, enhancing tourism services and products, and promoting strong collaboration with all government entities to support the development of the tourism sector—while advancing the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.