Travel in Saudi Arabia

An innovative and creative society, offering a space with the latest educational techniques in the fields of knowledge, arts, science, literature, creativity, design and innovation to all society segments.

The Middle East is not just a destination; it’s a living testament to the transformative power of forward-thinking ideas. It’s a natural fit for Skift to host a Forum, a location that thrives on innovation and embraces the ever-evolving landscape of global travel. Which is why I am excited Skift and Dubai are hosting Skift Global Forum East there for the second year on December 12-14 at Atlantis The Royal.

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which erupted in early October, has halted international tourism to Israel and severely blunted travel to neighboring countries in a ripple effect spreading across the entire Middle East. While the slowdown in international visitors is only one of the war’s economic repercussions in the region, it poses a significant threat to the economies of Egypt, Jordan and other nations heavily dependent on tourism and has swiftly reversed a banner year of travel in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious mega-development Neom continues to announce small boutique hotels. With more than half a trillion dollars at its disposal, Neom could build the biggest hotels in the world, but, for now, is opting to unveil properties no more than 100 keys in size.

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will acquire a 10% stake in Heathrow Airport, the busiest airport in Europe. Saudi is buying the share off of Ferrovial of Spain, while Paris-based Ardian will acquire 15 percent in a deal worth £2.37 billion ($3 billion) The deal is being made by the Public Investment Fund, known as PIF, which is chaired by the kingdom’s crown prince.

The Board of Directors of NEOM has unveiled Siranna, an exclusive tourism escape, and the latest destination to be announced by the sustainable regional development evolving in northwest Saudi Arabia.

BIE Member States elect Saudi Arabia as host country of World Expo 2030! Congratulations Riyadh!

In a high-profile showdown, Rome, Busan and Riyadh are the top contenders to become the host city of the 2030 World Expo, with the organizing body choosing the winner on Tuesday.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is set to represent Jamaica at the much anticipated 173rd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris, France. The BIE is the Intergovernmental Organization overseeing and regulating international exhibitions lasting more than three weeks, including World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos, and the Triennale di Milano.

The Middle East’s travel and tourism ambitions can seem unbelievable: 150 million visitors into the once-closed off Saudi Arabia, 40 million visitors to the UAE – big goals keep getting more ambitious. The Skift Global Forum East returns to Dubai from December 12 to 14 and we’ll be speaking to the most important travel executives from the region to better understand how it might all play out.

Submissions will run until 15 March 2024, before they are reviewed by a panel of industry experts. Winners will be announced before, and celebrate at, the ACI Asia-Pacific and the Middle East / ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference, and Exhibition, taking place in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 21–23 May 2023.

The Al Humaidi Family of Kuwait, which is headed by Dr. Abdulla Al Humaidi, has launched (and is continuing to launch) a range of ambitious projects via Kuwaiti European Holdings Group.

The hotel is IHG’s fifth Vignette Collection signing in the MEA region, adding to the company’s growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the region

The national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and Amadeus announce partnership on Saudia’s transition to an entirely new generation of simplified and end-to-end retailing technology.

During the summit, the Saudi Crown Prince, who is the visionary behind the Saudi Vision 2030, addressed tourism ministers, industry professionals, and leaders.

Dubai, with 66 projects/18,787 rooms, continues to dominate the construction pipeline in the UAE at Q3.

Substance beats style; respect flavors, textures. Connect with culinary heritage, make each dish a unique masterpiece.

flynas’ joining as an affiliate member of the UNWTO, which opened its Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh in 2021, contributes to highlighting the pioneering role of flynas and adds value in visibility, networking, participation, knowledge, support, and cooperation with Tier 1 organizations in the field of tourism.

Six Senses Southern Dunes, the Red Sea has officially opened in Saudi Arabia.

Imagine stepping into a world where the future of travel unfolds before your eyes, where CEOs and leaders meet to understand the larger context in which travel operates and the innovations needed to drive the industry ahead.

Foster + Partners has released concept images of its design for the pavilion for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Expo 2025, taking place in Osaka, Japan.