Saudi Arabia working on tourism options for mid, high-mid income groups: Minister

Saudi Arabia is working to develop tourism options tailored for middle- and upper-middle-income brackets, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb told Reuters.

The Kingdom also plans to expand hotel accommodation capacity for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, following years of focus on developing luxury resorts, he added on the sidelines of the UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh.

“This income segment will not be overlooked,” the minister said, noting that 10 new resorts are set to open in the coming months in the Red Sea Shebara Island, with prices significantly lower than current options.

Saudi Arabia seeks to increase the number of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims to 30 million by 2030, spurred by adding tens of thousands new hotel rooms.

The Kingdom further aims to attract more regional tourists through a planned GCC unified visa, which could be introduced by 2026 or, at the latest, 2027.