Locals embrace short getaways while foreign pilgrims spend in KSA
According to Visa's Travel Pulse: Eid Al-Adha Edition, international travel by Saudi residents rose by 25 percent compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was driven by a strong preference for shorter trips, with 69 percent of travelers from the Kingdom opting for brief weekend getaways. They also made 21 percent more purchases abroad and spent 13 percent more overall this Eid, reflecting a preference to maximize the holidays with quick trips abroad.
This Eid, international getaways became an opportunity for many Saudi travelers to indulge in retail experiences. Shopping led the way across all major destinations, influencing not just how people spent, but also where they chose to go.
•UAE led as the top international destination, welcoming 14 percent of Saudi travelers and accounting for 23 percent of total international spend. With an average spend of $635 per card, fashion took center stage — seven of the top 10 merchants were in the shopping and apparel category. Among the top brands were Dubai Duty Free Stores, Hermes, and Cartier, reflecting both a preference for convenient airport shopping and a strong appetite for luxury. Dining and entertainment were also high on the agenda.
•Nine percent of travelers went to Turkiye, making it the second most popular destination. It captured 15 percent of overall holiday spend with each visitor spending an average of $653 per card.
•While the UK attracted a smaller share of travelers from Saudi Arabia (6 percent) and overall spend (12 percent), it captured the highest spend per card at $839. This figure reflects the destination's premium retail appeal, with shopping leading how Saudi visitors chose to spend.
Meanwhile, the Hajj season continued to play a meaningful role in Saudi Arabia's economic landscape. Compared to the same period last year, the Kingdom saw a 7 percent increase in the number of foreign pilgrims, who made 16 percent more purchases during their stay. While overall spending grew by 4 percent, key shopping categories remained unchanged, including food, medicine, and other everyday needs, with smaller portions of spend going toward clothing and travel-related services.
'Whether it's a short break or a meaningful pilgrimage, having a simple and secure way to pay matters at every step of the journey,' said Ali Bailoun, regional general manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman at Visa.
'We are proud to support that through our unique data insights and seamless, reliable payment solutions, and to contribute to the Kingdom's Vision 2030 by helping create more connected, inclusive and seamless payment experiences across borders.'
For businesses and banks, Visa's Travel Pulse offers unique insights to improve the payment experience for Saudi Visa cardholders traveling abroad or opting for local experiences.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Industry Minister Launches Second Phase of Saudi-Omani Industrial Integration
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and Omani Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef launched the second phase of industrial integration between Saudi Arabia and Oman, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Thursday. The announcement was made as the ministers co-chaired a joint meeting at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh. The second phase of industrial integration focuses on boosting direct trade, supporting integration in value chains, and stimulating qualitative industrial investments. Objectives also include treating local products as national products in government procurements and facilitating procedures for exporters and investors. The meeting reviewed the achievements of the first phase of industrial integration, which included several initiatives such as the Future Factories Program, an initiative aimed at transforming factories from reliance on labor-intensive processes to adopting advanced industrial solutions and boosting integration in supply chains. It also discussed exchanging knowledge across various industrial sectors, as well as building national strategies and sharing industrial information.
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Imposes Fresh Sanctions Targeting Iran Oil Trade, Hezbollah
The US imposed sanctions on Thursday against a network that smuggles Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil and on a Hezbollah-controlled financial institution, the Treasury Department said. A network of companies run by Iraqi-British national Salim Ahmed Said has been buying and shipping billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil disguised as, or blended with, Iraqi oil since at least 2020, the department said. "Treasury will continue to target Tehran's revenue sources and intensify economic pressure to disrupt the regime's access to the financial resources that fuel its destabilizing activities," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. The US has imposed waves of sanctions on Iran's oil exports over its nuclear program and funding of militant groups across the Middle East. Reuters reported late last year that a fuel-oil smuggling network that generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has flourished in Iraq since 2022. Thursday's sanctions came after the US carried out strikes on June 22 on three Iranian nuclear sites including its most deeply buried enrichment plant, Fordow. The Pentagon said on Wednesday the strikes had degraded Iran's nuclear program by up to two years, despite a far more cautious initial assessment that had leaked to the public. The US and Iran were expected to hold talks about its nuclear program next week in Oslo, Axios reported. Said's companies and vessels blend Iranian oil with Iraqi oil, which is then sold to Western buyers via Iraq or the United Arab Emirates as purely Iraqi oil using forged documentation to avoid sanctions, Treasury said. Said controls UAE-based company VS Tankers though he avoids formal association with it, Treasury said. Formerly known as Al-Iraqia Shipping Services & Oil Trading (AISSOT), VS Tankers has smuggled oil for the benefit of the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated by Washington as a terrorist organization, it said. The sanctions block US assets of those designated and prevent Americans from doing business with them. VS Tankers denied Treasury's assertions and said it will "pursue all legal remedies as necessary." Iran's mission in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The US also sanctioned several vessels that are accused of engaging in the covert delivery of Iranian oil, intensifying pressure on Iran's "shadow fleet," it said. The Treasury Department also issued sanctions against several senior officials and one entity associated with the Hezbollah-controlled financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan. The officials, the department said, conducted millions of dollars in transactions that ultimately benefited, but obscured, Hezbollah.
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi authorities close 996 establishments over health violations
RIYADH: A total of 5,912 inspections covering 4,307 establishments were carried out across the Kingdom by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in April and May. A total of 996 were shut down due to various violations, while 136 were closed for operating without required licenses and for product safety breaches. Additionally, production lines at 127 establishments were halted and 1,750 types of products were seized. The initiative is part of the SFDA's efforts to ensure compliance with approved regulations and to uphold high quality standards. At one food establishment, inspectors found raw materials of an unknown origin, employees without health certificates, the absence of a tracking system and inadequate measures being taken to prevent cross-contamination. These led to the closure of the business and the implementation of necessary legal measures.
