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Tourism in Saudi Arabia

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Al-Balad, Jeddah is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Rijal Almaa Heritage Village in 'Asir Province
Elephant Rock in Al-Ula

Saudi Arabia is the second biggest tourist destination in the Middle East with over 16 million visiting in 2017.[1] Although most tourism in Saudi Arabia still largely involves religious pilgrimages, there is growth in the leisure tourism sector. As the tourism sector has been largely boosted lately, the sector is expected to a significant industry for Saudi Arabia, reducing its dependence on oil revenues. This is proved as tourism sector is expected to generate $25 billion in 2019.[2] Potential tourist areas include the Hijaz and Sarawat Mountains, Red Sea diving and a number of ancient ruins.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2018, Travel and tourism in Saudi Arabia added 9% to the Kingdom’s total economy which is worth $65.2 billion.[3]

In December 2013, Saudi Arabia announced its intention to begin issuing tourist visas for the first time in its history. Council of Ministers entrusted the Ministry of Tourism with visa issuing on the basis of certain regulations approved by the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs.[4] On 27 September 2019, Saudi Arabia formally announced the issuance of the tourist visa to visitors from 49 countries for a fee of $80. The visa can be either obtained online (eVisa) or on arrival.[5] Ten days after the implementation of instant tourist visas, 24,000 foreign visitors entered Saudi Arabia. China visitors topped the list, with the UK and the US in second and third.[6]

Popular places to visit in Saudi Arabia are Makkah, Medina, Mada'in Salih, Yanbu, Tabuk, Jeddah and Riyadh.

Arriving in Saudi Arabia can be through 13 international airports served by various global airlines. There are also 15 domestic airports connecting the country's regions and cities. For moving within the country, there are budget airlines like Flynas, Fyadeal, Nesma Airlines, in addition to Saudi Airlines and SaudiGulf Airlines.

Museums

[edit]
Main article: List of museums in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has a variety of museums ranging from historical museums, archeological museums, and cultural and scientific museums. These museums exhibit the art life, old handicrafts, and antiquities of the Kingdom and including:

National Museum
  • National Museum of Saudi Arabia: This is the most famous museum in Saudi Arabia. It was established in 1999 and is located in Riyadh as a part of the King Abdulaziz Historical Centre.[7] The museum highlights the prominent history of the Arabian Peninsula and its historical role in Islam expanding as well as the history of Saudi Arabia.[7] The museum also holds many ancient manuscripts that are traced back to many ancient civilizations. Indeed Saudi Arabia is considered one of the richest countries in regards of the number of ancient manuscripts.[8]
  • Al-Zaher Palace Museum: It is a historical museum established in 1944 and exhibits the history of Makkah and various archaeological collections for different periods of Islamic history in the region.[9]
  • Al-Madinah Museum: It exhibits Al-Madina's heritage and history featuring different archaeological collections, visual galleries and rare images that relate to Al-Medina.[10] It also includes the Hejaz Railway Museum.
  • Jeddah Regional Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography in Jeddah: it exhibits various collections including artifacts of the stone age back to the Acheulean period, elements illustrating the rise of Islam, and a collection of ethnographic items portraying the modern culture of the region.
Nasseef House in Al-Balad, Jeddah
  • Nasseef House in Jeddah: a historical building in Al-Balad, founded in 1872. later, In 2009, it was transformed into a museum and cultural center.
  • Royal Saudi Air Force Museum in Riyadh: This museum displays the history of the Royal Saudi Air Force.
  • Masmak fort: is a clay and mud-brick fort, it was built around 1865.
  • Makkah Antiquities and Heritage Museum: The museum was originally a royal guest house and went by the name of Zaher Palace. It was later converted into a school, and then into a museum.[11]
Masmak fort
  • Tabuk Castle: is an ancient castle in Tabuk, the capital city of the Tabuk Region in northwestern Saudi Arabia which dates back to 1559.[12] The castle has been rehabilitated and transformed into a museum open to all visitors.
  • Dammam National Museum is located on the 4th floor of the Dammam Public Library, opposite the Muhammad bin Fahd Stadium on the cross lane from the Dammam-Khobar Highway in Al Toubaishi district. The museum focuses on the country's history, culture, and inhabitants through displays of relics and remnants of handicrafts.
  • Al Ula Museum: one of the most crucial tourist destinations within the Kingdom, is described as a vibrant living museum in the open air, where the rich tapestry of Saudi Arabian history unfolds against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, and architectural marvels.[citation needed]
  • Museum of Buraidah
  • Al Ahsa Museum
  • The Two Holy Mosques Architecture Exhibition

World Heritage Sites

[edit]
Main article: List of World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia

There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia inscribed from 2008 to 2023;[13] they are as follows:

Al-Ahsa Oasis
  • Al-Ahsa Oasis: The Al-Ahsa Oasis is a serial property comprising gardens, canals, springs, wells and a drainage lake, as well as historical buildings, urban fabric and archaeological sites.[14]
Qasr Al-Farid tomb in Mada'in Salih
Salwa Palace in At-Turaif District, Diriyah
Jokhdar House, which was turned into a luxury hotel in Historic Jeddah
  • Historic Jeddah: Historic Jeddah was as a major port for Indian Ocean trade routes, channelling goods to Mecca. It was also the gateway for Muslim pilgrims to Mecca who arrived by sea.[21]
  • Rock Art in the Hail Region: This property shows numerous representations of human and animal figures covering 10,000 years of history.[22]
  • Ḥimā Cultural Area: Ḥimā Cultural Area contains a collection of rock art images illustrating hunting, fauna, flora and lifestyles of 7,000 years.[23]
  • 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid: The property encompasses the western part of the greatest expanse of windblown sand on Earth, known as Ar Rub' al-KhaIi, and conserves one of the Earth’s most spectacular desert landscapes.[24]
  • Qaryat al-Faw: Lying at a strategic point of the ancient trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, the property was abruptly abandoned around the 5th century CE.[25]

Main festivals and events

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Boulevard City Zone of Riyadh Season
  • Riyadh Season: is a six-month long entertainment festival that includes a wide range of entertainment events from international concerts, sport events, Michelin star restaurants and family-oriented activities such as Winter Wonderland.[26]
  • Jenadriyah: It is an annual cultural and heritage festival held in Jenadriyah near Riyadh. The festival hosts various cultural and heritage events such as Al Janadriya Operetta, Saudi ardah, and camel racing.
  • Souk Okaz: It is an annual cultural event held in Ta'if. It was known as an open market in the ancient past. Nowadays, Souk Okaz combines more than 150 attractions of heritage and cultural events, theatre performances, and arts and crafts.[27][28]
  • Historic Jeddah Festival: is a celebration that takes place in the historical Al Balad district of Jeddah. The festival exhibits the culture and heritage of Jeddah.[29]
  • “Winter at Tantora” festival : an annual festival held in the old town of AlUla, in northwestern Saudi Arabia.
  • Ha'il International Rally
  • Al Qassim Date Festival: is the largest date festival in the world held in the central Qassim region of Saudi Arabia.
  • King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival[30] is an international festival organized by the Saudi Falcons Club and witnesses the participation of a group of falcon owners in the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council.[31]
  • Riyadh Fashion Week: a spectacular showcase of Saudi Arabia's flourishing fashion identity, featuring a curated lineup of 16 mesmerizing runway shows that invite attendees to embark on an extraordinary and evocative journey into the heart of style, cultural richness, and innovation. [32]

Religious tourism

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Muslim pilgrims in Mecca

Tourism in Saudi Arabia still largely involves religious pilgrimages. Mecca and Medina receive over three million pilgrims a year during the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in Hajj,[33] and around two million during the month of Ramadan to perform Umrah.[34] During the rest of the year, Mecca and Medina receive around four million for Umrah. The Hajj, or pilgrimage to the city, is one of the five pillars of Islam. Only Muslims are permitted in Mecca, while non-Muslims can enter Medina.

Saudi Seasons

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Wadi Ashar in Al-'Ula

In 2019, in support of Saudi Vision 2030, the country launched an initiative known as Saudi Seasons to help promote domestic and international tourism. Backed via public and private sector investments, Saudi Seasons consists of "seasons" in specific areas of the country throughout the year, which serve as a collective brand for cultural and entertainment events (including festivals, concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, sports, and other attractions) held during the periods:[35][36] Riyadh Season, the largest of the events in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, runs from October through March annually. The inaugural edition of Riyadh Season generated six billion riyals in revenue and over eleven million visitors.[37][38]

Other sites

[edit]
The Red Sea seen from the Ummahat Island archipelago in The Red Sea Project

The Red Sea Project is being developed as a beach resort where women can wear bikinis.[39] The construction began in 2019. The Red Sea is one of the seven wonders of the underwater world. Known for its beautiful coral reefs and abundant marine life, it is listed as one of the best diving locations in the world.[40]

Tourists in Saudi

[edit]
Number of arrivals

The Travel & Tourism sector in Saudi Arabia is set for impressive growth, with an anticipated annual average increase of 11% over the next decade, positioning itself as the fastest-growing industry in the Middle East. This positive trajectory is highlighted by a projection that the Kingdom is expected to attract a substantial 22.1 million international arrivals by 2025. Such a promising outlook not only emphasizes the increasing allure of Saudi Arabia as a travel destination but also signifies the country's strategic efforts to establish itself as a key player in the global tourism landscape.[citation needed]

Most visitors arriving in Saudi Arabia on a short term basis were from the following countries:

Country 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
 Bahrain 2,177,662 239,947 99,854 510,900 574,350 568,564 918,432
 Kuwait 1,948,429 623,462 629,240 2,132,114 1,992,838 2,092,824 2,064,087
 Egypt 1,462,922 308,253 431,790 1,099,854 799,950 958,777 1,621,644
 Pakistan 1,407,164 257,640 483,290 2,210,877 2,177,306 2,537,201 2,181,985
 Indonesia 1,228,186 11,467 293,291 1,428,935 1,375,004 1,427,056 1,144,554
 India 1,108,678 316,488 338,965 1,571,070 1,440,170 1,581,233 1,656,245
 Qatar 764,485 254,013 10,372 46,152 119,287 274,935 623,917
 Jordan 597,165 196,898 242,834 836,678 615,993 715,493 920,449
 United Arab Emirates 595,813 94,927 165,716 784,305 739,404 649,902 947,628
 Iraq 491,510 87,843 65,582 316,519 239,790 325,022 213,735
 Bangladesh 465,845 69,203 81,748 472,388 360,447 339,876 289,858
 Malaysia 327,229 19,654 80,514 411,971 320,109 342,971 361,120
 Oman 318,991 70,146 100,789 260,550 184,657 195,156 167,863
 United Kingdom 252,515 54,125 78,655 355,266 265,128 229,672 261,070
 United States 226,500 61,084 121,347 893,981 824,768 442,376 618,946
 Syria 184,511 160,372 70,698 26,573 27,532 30,595 25,660
 Morocco 133,375 8,988 22,654 220,543 216,518 252,204 217,981
 Nigeria 119,876 20,038 20,913 173,120 134,495 139,674 151,585
 France 103,548 21,148 28,142 115,294 77,422 62,934 77,132
 Philippines 71,142 18,097 10,689 71,195 59,171 82,718 171,562
 Lebanon 66,737 21,214 45,282 107,765 62,927 68,451 75,003
 Canada 66,115 13,195 16,215 108,716 69,753 43,558 69,835
 Russia 64,354 8,465 6,204 25,115 19,397 16,013 22,491
 Kazakhstan 61,673 7,915 12,302 24,014 14,377 8,934 9,073
 Kyrgyzstan 59,334 9,721 5,243 17,124 8,500 5,892 6,537
 Germany 58,318 13,224 13,327 146,675 59,804 46,930 84,664
 China 44,074 13,183 16,184 135,835 62,834 61,315 55,766
 Italy 35,443 13,840 11,890 40,053 30,252 29,992 61,037
 Spain 19,651 9,738 4,838 40,173 20,913 16,727 14,025
   Nepal 16,911 9,639 6,717 18,530 7,270 12,839 55,591

Future prospects

[edit]

Saudi Arabia’s overall number of tourist trips is on course to be 93.8 million by 2023, up from 64.7 million in 2018.[2] Riyadh and Jeddah hosted Color Runs in late 2019. Hotels are no longer required to ask Saudi couples for proof of marriage for a check-in. The government is spending billions[clarification needed] on bringing forms of entertainment such as wrestling, tennis, car racing, expensive restaurants and concerts to expand tourism.[41] Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The country announced its bid in October 2023, and was the only nation to submit a bid by the deadline, presenting a significant and promising opportunity for the future development and global recognition of Saudi Arabia.[42]

Saudi Arabia's tourism strategy is closely aligned with the 2030 vision, seeking to significantly enhance the sector's role in the domestic economy. The plan targets a contribution of over 10% to the growth of domestic product (GDP), the creation of one million new job opportunities, and the attraction of 100 million annual visits by 2030. This ambitious agenda reflects a comprehensive effort to position the Kingdom as a prominent player in the global tourism landscape.[43]

Embarking on a transformative journey to diversify its economic, social, and cultural dimensions, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince has unveiled four pivotal projects under the ambitious 2030 vision. Qiddiyah Entertainment City, a colossal recreational and entertainment hub, promises a world of theme parks, sports facilities, desert tracks for motorsports, and a diverse array of historical and cultural events. NEOM, a $500 billion endeavor, envisions a futuristic city near the Red Sea, incorporating multiple cities, airports, seaports, and innovation centers. Meanwhile, the Red Sea Project focuses on luxury tourism, highlighting the natural wonders of the Red Sea through sustainable practices. Amaala Resort, an ultra-luxurious project, centers on wellness, healthy tourism, and cultural experiences, all aimed at not only elevating the nation's income but also transforming the quality of life for its citizens through world class tourism and entertainment experiences. With these visionary projects under the 2030 vision, the future prospects for the nation's economic, social, and cultural landscape appear promising and transformative.[44]

Tourism Projects Under Construction

[edit]
See also: List of Saudi Vision 2030 Projects

The following list contains major Saudi Vision 2030 tourism projects under construction:

Project Location Total Area (km2) Announcement Date Expected Completion Cost Website
NEOM,[45] including The Line, Trojena, and Sindalah Tabuk 26,500 2017-10-24 2030 $500 billion [1]
Qiddiya[citation needed] South-west of Riyadh 360 2017-04-08 2030 $9.8 billion[46] [2]
Red Sea Global[47] including The Red Sea Project and Amaala Tabuk 28,000 2017-07-31 2030 (fist phase)
2035 (final phase) 		$23.6 billion[46] [3]
Diriyah Gate project[48] Diriyah 7.1 2017-07-20 2027 $63.2 billion[49] [4]
New Murabba, including Mukaab[50] Riyadh 19 2023-02-16[51] 2030[52] $50 billion[53] [5]
Sports Boulevard[54] Riyadh 135 2019-05-19 2027 $23 billion[55] [6]
King Salman Park[56][57] Riyadh 16 2019-03-19 2027 $23 billion [7]
Expo 2030 Site[58] Riyadh 6.6[59] 2023-11-28 2030 $7.8 billion [8]
King Abdullah International Gardens[60] Riyadh 2.5 2014-02-28[61] 2025 $200 million[62] [9]
Jeddah Central[63] Jeddah 5.7 2021-12-17 2027 (first phase)
2030 (final phase) 		$19.9 billion[64] [10]
Jeddah Economic City[65] Jeddah 5.3 2011-08-01 $30 billion[46] [11]
Masar Destination[66] Mecca 1.2[67] 2020-06-28[68] 2030 $26.66 billion[46] [12]
Rua Al Madinah,[69] including Islamic Civilization Village[70] Medina 1.5 2022-08-24 2026 (first phase
2030 (final phase)[71] 		$37 billion[46] [13]
The Rig[72] Persian Gulf 0.3 2021-10-16 $5 billion[73] [14]
Al-Ula Vision[74][75] Al-Ula 22,500 2019-02-11 2027 $15 billion[76] [15]
Soudah Peaks[77] Asir 627 2023-09-25 2029[78] $7.7 billion[79] [16]

Promotion

[edit]

Lionel Messi as ambassador

[edit]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed Argentine professional footballer and Inter Miami forward, Lionel Messi, as its tourism ambassador in May 2022.[80] Messi was signed by Saudi Arabia as its ambassador during a trip he made to the country’s port city of Jeddah, along the Red Sea. Saudi’s Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al Khateeb officially announced the signing in a tweet by writing, “This is not his first visit to the kingdom and it will not be the last”, indicating the footballer’s future visits to Saudi for promoting its tourism.[81][82] The news received critical reactions from media and human rights groups calling it Saudi Arabia’s use of sports to improve its reputation.[83]

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See also

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References

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[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Saudi Arabia.
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