Foreign Tourist Spending in Saudi Arabia Tops $13 Bln in Q1
The kingdom also posted a surplus of 26.8 billion riyals ($7.14 billion) in its travel account balance, marking an 11.7% year-on-year increase, driven by a surge in tourism activity and government-led initiatives to diversify the economy beyond oil.
The data, published in the central bank's balance of payments for May, reflects the success of Saudi Arabia's broader tourism strategy under Vision 2030, which aims to position the kingdom as a global travel destination.
Tourism reforms yield results
The Ministry of Tourism said the strong surplus was the result of continued national efforts to boost tourism's contribution to economic growth. It added that the figures reflect 'clear progress' in the sector's development.
The rapid growth highlights the effectiveness of reforms across the tourism ecosystem, including improved services, upgraded infrastructure, and enhanced collaboration between public and private stakeholders to meet Vision 2030 targets.
Industry experts say government initiatives launched in recent years are starting to bear fruit, as evidenced by rising international arrivals and spending.
E-visas widen access
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, tourism investor and businessman Majed Al-Hokair said Saudi Arabia's recent achievements underscore its growing appeal to international visitors.
He credited the introduction of electronic tourist visas for travelers from across the globe with significantly boosting arrivals, allowing visitors to explore the country's diverse offerings — from historical and cultural sites to leisure and beach destinations.
Al-Hokair added that Saudi Arabia's tourism appeal spans all seasons, drawing visitors for entertainment, heritage, business travel, and conferences, all of which have generated new job opportunities for Saudis in the sector.
Legal reforms fuel tourism boom
Nasser Al-Ghilan, founder and CEO of Amla Tourism Investment, told Asharq Al-Awsat that regulatory changes have also played a key role in attracting foreign tourists and driving up domestic tourism spending.
He said several new tourism and entertainment projects launched under Vision 2030 helped the kingdom surpass its goal of 100 million visitors in 2023, with new targets now set at 150 million annual visitors by the end of the decade.
Record tourism surplus in 2024
In 2024, Saudi Arabia posted a record 50 billion riyals ($13.3 billion) surplus in its travel account - a 7.8% increase over 2023 - driven by a 13.8% jump in international visitor spending.
Inbound tourism spending rose to 153.6 billion riyals ($40.9 billion) in 2024, compared to 135 billion riyals ($36 billion) the previous year, reflecting the kingdom's growing status as a global travel hub.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward a circular economy under Vision 2030, experts say universities, research institutions, and business leaders are playing a crucial role in developing innovative waste management solutions that align with national sustainability goals. In early 2024, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a waste management plan aiming to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and add SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the Kingdom's gross domestic product. Saudi Arabia generates more than 110 million tons of waste each year, much of it originating from cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its waste management market is projected to grow from $5.97 billion in 2025 to $8.72 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence. To meet this challenge, academic partnerships, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are coming together to reshape the sector, Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, told Arab News. Forming knowledge-sharing agreements with leading countries in waste management, he said, is a strategic step toward building a sustainable, locally adapted system that draws on global best practices and aligns with Saudi Arabia's circular economy ambitions. To drive innovation in the sector, Al-Muaythir emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary support. Fields like civil engineering, landfill and waste management, geotechnical engineering, and soil sciences all contribute to the design and development of critical infrastructure. Mechanical engineering plays a key role in advancing collection and treatment equipment, while chemical, agricultural and biotechnology engineering disciplines help analyze waste composition and develop transformation processes. Electrical engineering, he added, is essential for operating smart systems and managing energy generated through treatment. Al-Muaythir also pointed to the Kingdom's updated regulatory landscape, particularly the introduction of the Waste Management Law and its executive regulations, as a strong foundation for encouraging innovation and investment in sustainable practices. He explained that the next phase calls for faster plan implementation, broader international research collaboration and direct incentives for advanced processing technologies — steps that would speed up the Kingdom's progress toward its environmental and development goals. While government action is essential, Al-Muaythir said innovation in waste management is not a luxury, but a necessity for building a clean environment and a functioning circular economy. He added that individual responsibility plays an equally important role. 'Adopting conscious behaviors towards waste and committing to sorting and reuse/recycling constitute the first building blocks in creating a more sustainable future,' he said. Expanding on this vision, Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association, said waste management innovation is a cornerstone of Vision 2030's broader goal to build a circular and sustainable economy. He told Arab News that scientific research is a key driver in tackling environmental challenges — from recycling and waste-to-energy technologies to the use of artificial intelligence to improve sorting and collection processes — ultimately boosting operational efficiency and reducing environmental harm. To support this ecosystem, the association provides business incubators and innovation accelerators, offering technical and financial assistance. It also facilitates connections between researchers, donors and investors to help turn ideas into market-ready solutions. Alakel noted that several joint initiatives with academic and industrial partners are already underway, including efforts to convert organic waste into economic products such as fertilizers and biofuels. DID YOU KNOW? • Saudi Arabia aims to recycle up to 95 percent of its waste by 2040. Waste management sector is projected to contribute $32bn to GDP by 2040. • Half of the Kingdom's waste comes from Riyadh (21 percent), Jeddah (14 percent) and Dammam (8 percent). (Sources: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Waste Management) Other projects aim to develop scalable recycling technologies and improve overall waste management efficiency. Beyond research, the association works to foster a culture of sustainability across society. Alakel said it organizes public awareness campaigns, educational workshops in schools and universities, and national competitions that encourage creative, environmentally responsible solutions. He added that the association plays a critical role in bridging academia and implementation by hosting scientific conferences, building strategic partnerships and supporting national innovation deployment in alignment with Vision 2030's environmental goals. Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, echoed those views, underscoring the opportunity to enhance coordination between stakeholders as Saudi Arabia moves toward a circular economy. She told Arab News that aligning regulations, expanding infrastructure for sorting and collection, and stimulating private investment remain key challenges. Raising public awareness and promoting innovation are also essential to achieving sector-wide transformation. To accelerate progress, Al-Gharib called for a more integrated and flexible system that encourages public-private partnerships. Activating source-level sorting and offering financial incentives to investors, she said, would help drive growth in the sector. Clear metrics, such as waste reduction, cost savings and job creation, should be used to measure success. Looking ahead, she expects more companies to invest in smart technologies and expand their collection and treatment networks. Seamless integration across the entire waste value chain — from source to processing and redistribution — is essential, she said, to avoid bottlenecks and uphold the core principles of the circular economy. 'Based on our experience in the sector, we believe that unifying and updating regulations under a single, clear, and transparent regulatory framework would directly contribute to attracting investors, reducing the complexity of procedures and the classification of recyclable products, thereby accelerating regulatory processes and stimulating production,' said Al-Gharib. She concluded that clear legislation and coordinated responsibilities across authorities are key to scaling up circular economy initiatives effectively and sustainably.
Al Arabiya
8 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Brazilian Hiker Buried After Fatal Fall From Indonesian Volcano
A Brazilian hiker who died after falling from the ridge of a volcano in Indonesia was buried on Friday in Rio de Janeiro state. Juliana Marin's body arrived in Brazil on Tuesday, a week after authorities confirmed her death. Her family has accused Indonesian authorities of negligence and delays in the rescue and repatriation process. On June 21, the 26-year-old tourist began summiting Mount Rinjani, an active 3,726-meter (12,224-foot) volcano on the Indonesian island of Lombok, with a guide and five other foreigners when she fell about 600 meters (nearly 2,000 feet), Indonesian authorities said. Indonesian rescuers retrieved her body on June 25. Authorities confirmed her death on Tuesday after the rescuers reached and examined the body, which was found using a thermal drone after four days of intensive searches complicated by terrain and weather. The retrieval took at least five hours because of the rocky and steep terrain and foggy weather. Millions of people in Brazil followed the rescue efforts. Indonesian authorities and the rescuer team met with Marin's family to explain the process. Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second-tallest peak, is a popular destination for trekkers. Manoel Marin, the hiker's father, told reporters at the burial in her hometown of Niteroi that what happened to his daughter was a matter of disregard for human life, blaming what he called Indonesia's precarious public services. 'Unfortunately, it's a tourist destination – known worldwide, a country that depends on tourism to survive,' he said. 'It should have better infrastructure, better resources to rescue people.'
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Ensuring water security through robust regulation
Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing its water infrastructure in alignment with Vision 2030, taking bold steps to ensure the long-term sustainability, resilience, and efficiency of its water distribution networks. With water scarcity looming as a global crisis, the Kingdom is making water security a national priority — modernizing networks, investing in smart infrastructure, and tightening regulatory frameworks to set a new standard for sustainable water management. In recent years, these regulations have become more stringent, reinforcing the need for standardized, high-quality solutions that reduce inefficiencies and enhance system resilience. Yet, despite the progress, challenges persist. Aging infrastructure, high rates of non-revenue water, and inconsistent implementation of standards continue to undermine these efforts. Bridging the gap between regulation and real-world execution requires more than meeting minimum requirements. Industry players must take a proactive stance — going beyond compliance to integrate best practices and durable components that protect the integrity of Saudi Arabia's water networks for decades to come. Unified standards ensure that water network components — such as valves, hydrants, and pipeline fittings — are designed to withstand the Kingdom's demanding conditions, from high temperatures to corrosive soil environments. Adherence to internationally recognized standards, like International Organization for Standardization and American Water Works Association, guarantees that these components are built for performance, even under pressure. Material compliance is especially critical. Poor material choices can lead to corrosion, leaks, and premature failure — issues that significantly increase long-term maintenance costs. According to the World Economic Forum's 2023 Global Risks Report, failure of critical infrastructure — including water systems — is one of the top risks facing governments in the coming decade due to inadequate investment and poor resilience strategies. By strengthening material specifications and standardizing design requirements across the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia can reinforce the backbone of its water infrastructure and reduce lifecycle costs over time. Globally, utilities lose an average of 25-30 percent of their water as non-revenue water — lost through leakage, theft, or metering inaccuracies. In some developing regions, that figure can exceed 40 percent. Non-compliant or substandard components are a major contributor to non-revenue water. When pipes, valves, and fittings are not installed or maintained properly — or are made from inferior materials — leakages occur more frequently, reducing pressure and disrupting supply. Enforcing compliance with best practices, particularly pressure management and valve quality can significantly reduce these losses. According to a 2022 study by the International Water Association, utilities that adopted pressure regulation and high-quality components saw non-revenue water reductions of up to 15 percent within the first year of implementation. Additionally, digital monitoring systems paired with compliant infrastructure can detect leaks in real time, allowing operators to respond proactively rather than reactively conserving water, energy, and money. Regulation isn't a burden — it's a catalyst. It presents an opportunity to raise the bar for what's possible in water sustainability. Mads Helge Saudi Arabia is undertaking large-scale water infrastructure projects as part of its Vision 2030 agenda, including smart water grids, desalination plant expansions, and wastewater reuse networks. The Saline Water Conversion Corporation, for instance, has become the largest producer of desalinated water globally, with plans to increase daily capacity to 8.5 million cubic meters by 2030. As these investments scale, ensuring all components align with international and local standards will be crucial. Certified, regulation-compliant components not only reduce the risk of future disruptions but also deliver long-term operational savings. For example, ductile iron valves designed to ISO 2531 standards — such as those manufactured by AVK — can have a lifespan of over 50 years when correctly installed and maintained. However, quality doesn't end at certification. It's critical to consider the total cost of ownership, including durability, maintenance needs, and warranty coverage. Short-term savings often result in higher long-term costs if components degrade quickly or require frequent replacement. Not all suppliers offer extended warranties, and municipalities should prioritise those that provide long-term guarantees such as 10-year warranties as a marker of component reliability and supplier accountability. These standards help future-proof infrastructure, ensuring it can adapt to changing demand, pressure conditions, and sustainability requirements over the coming decades. Even the highest-quality components can underperform if installed incorrectly. Across the region, unskilled contracting, inconsistent commissioning, and lack of oversight continue to impact water network reliability. A 2023 McKinsey report on global water infrastructure identified poor installation and weak inspection protocols as key causes of early-stage failures and maintenance backlogs. To address this, regulatory bodies in the Kingdom should enforce mandatory training and certification programs for contractors. In countries like Denmark and the Netherlands, technician accreditation is mandatory for working on municipal water systems — ensuring consistent installation quality and safety standards. Third-party audits should also be a regulatory requirement. Independent inspections ensure accountability, catch flaws early, and verify that installation matches design intent. With improved oversight and qualified personnel on the ground, Saudi Arabia can maximize its return on infrastructure investments and extend the lifespan of critical assets. Water security is not just about increasing supply — it's about protecting what's already in circulation. Saudi Arabia's regulatory frameworks have laid the foundation for resilient, future-ready infrastructure. But their true impact depends on execution. By prioritizing best practices, embracing international standards, and enforcing robust compliance across every link in the value chain — from manufacturing to installation — the Kingdom can drastically reduce inefficiencies, cut down on water loss, and build networks that serve its growing population for decades to come. Regulation isn't a burden — it's a catalyst. It presents an opportunity to raise the bar for what's possible in water sustainability. At its core, this is not just about cost-efficiency or ticking boxes. It's about protecting the very foundation of life — for the Kingdom today and for generations to come. • Mads Helge is general manager at AVK Saudi Valves Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
