Saudi Arabia's Tourism Sector Generates Over 1 Million Jobs in 2025

Saudi Arabia's tourism sector has achieved a significant milestone, generating over 1 million direct and indirect jobs in 2025, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism. The achievement represents a major step toward the kingdom's Vision 2030 goals, which target tourism as a key pillar of economic diversification away from oil dependency. The sector's contribution to GDP has risen to approximately 6%, up from less than 3% in 2019. The growth has been driven by massive infrastructure investments, including the development of mega-projects such as NEOM, The Red Sea destination, AlUla, and Diriyah Gate. These projects have created thousands of construction and hospitality jobs while attracting international hotel brands and tourism operators. Saudi Arabia welcomed over 100 million domestic and international visitors in 2025, with the kingdom's e-visa program continuing to expand to new nationalities. The Riyadh Season entertainment festival alone attracted over 15 million visitors. The Saudi Tourism Authority has also been actively participating in international travel exhibitions and launching targeted marketing campaigns in key source markets including Europe, Asia, and the Americas. For the broader Middle East tourism ecosystem, Saudi Arabia's growth creates opportunities for cross-border tourism packages, particularly with neighboring Jordan, which shares cultural and historical connections through sites like the Hejaz Railway and the ancient Nabataean civilization.