Saudi Arabia records $42.6bn in foreign tourist spending in 2025

Saudi Arabia recorded foreign tourist spending of 159.86 billion riyals ($42.63 billion) in 2025, marking the highest annual level ever, according to official data released by the Saudi Central Bank.

The figures show a 4.07 percent increase compared to 2024, when spending stood at 153.61 billion riyals ($40.96 billion), reflecting an annual rise of 6.25 billion riyals ($1.67 billion).

Growth was particularly notable in the final quarter of the year, with foreign tourist spending rising by 9.77 percent year-on-year to reach 39.48 billion riyals ($10.53 billion), up from 35.97 billion riyals ($9.59 billion) in the same period of 2024.

Despite the increase in inbound tourism revenues, Saudi Arabia recorded a travel balance surplus of 49.43 billion riyals ($13.18 billion) in 2025, slightly lower than the 50.25 billion riyals ($13.4 billion) surplus recorded the previous year.

At the same time, Saudi spending on travel abroad rose to approximately 110.42 billion riyals ($29.45 billion) in 2025, compared to 103.36 billion riyals ($27.56 billion) in 2024, representing a 6.84 percent increase.

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