Saudi Arabia’s tourist expenditure hits $40bn in H1, says minister

RIYADH: Jeddah Municipality has announced 29 new investment opportunities across more than 1.4 million sq. meters, targeting sectors such as commercial, industrial, residential, and recreation. 

Jeddah’s investment package includes 13 commercial opportunities featuring developing and operating retail shops and commercial complexes across various districts. The initiatives include the development of an integrated container city spanning 846,684 sq. meters and a second container park at 429,223 sq. meters.  

This latest undertaking also follows a similar wave of investment opportunities recently launched in Riyadh, underscoring a nationwide push to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy and enhance urban livability.  

Jeddah’s additional projects feature a 145,472-sq.-meter barley milling and packaging facility, eight worker residential compounds, and eight public parks equipped with kindergartens and retail outlets.  

A food truck zone under the municipal incubator program in South Obhur has also been introduced. In the education sector, a health college project has been announced.   

The strategically distributed initiatives aim to meet neighborhood needs while ensuring synergy between activities.   

The municipality has invited investors to submit proposals through the Furas Saudi investment portal. It noted that the bid submissions will be accepted from May 1 until July 8, as per the scheduled timeline. The Furas portal streamlines investor access, reflecting a unified approach to municipal investments.  

This undertaking underscores Jeddah’s commitment to economic growth and urban development in alignment with national objectives. 

Riyadh’s 2025 investment portfolio — spanning commercial, industrial, and leisure projects — mirrors the Kingdom’s strategic focus on private-sector-driven development under Vision 2030. 

In March, the Riyadh Municipality unveiled 20 new investment prospects across 175,000 sq. meters, including mixed-use spaces, retail hubs, and industrial zones, with contracts ranging from five to 25 years.  

Key districts like Jarir, Al-Rawdah, and Al-Qadisiyah are prioritized to ensure balanced growth. Complementing these efforts, the city has expanded its green infrastructure, adding 87 parks since 2022 to reach over 745,000 sq. meters of green space — transforming them into multifunctional community venues. 

These parallel initiatives highlight Saudi cities’ commitment to sustainable urbanization, economic diversification, and elevated quality of life, cementing the Kingdom’s position as a regional leader in transformative urban development. 

RIYADH: Qatar received more than 1.5 million international visitors in the first quarter of 2025, according to newly released figures, as the country continues to push forward with its comprehensive tourism strategy anchored in major events, strategic partnerships, and diverse travel offerings.

While slightly below the 1.6 million visitors recorded during the same period in 2024, the latest numbers highlight Qatar’s sustained momentum in attracting global travelers.

Visitors from Gulf Cooperation Council countries accounted for 36 percent of arrivals, followed by Europe at 28 percent and Asia and Oceania at 20 percent, underscoring Qatar’s growing appeal across varied markets.

The increase aligns with the nation’s long-term objective of drawing six million visitors annually by 2030. It also coincides with the third phase of the Qatar National Development Strategy (2024–2030), launched in January 2024, which designates tourism as a critical pillar in the country’s economic diversification agenda.

“The achievements of the first quarter of 2025 demonstrate some of the planned outputs of our long-term approach to tourism development,” said Saad Bin Ali Al-Kharji, chairman of Qatar Tourism and chair of the board of directors of Visit Qatar.

“Part of the development transcends into deepening collaboration across local, regional and international markets and continue to diversify source markets, enhance visitor experiences, and reinforce Qatar’s position as a dynamic, year-round destination. We are excited to have welcomed 1.5M in Q1 and look forward to welcoming more guests throughout this year,” he added.

Qatar’s multi-access strategy also appears to be paying off. Of the total visitors, 51 percent arrived by air, 34 percent by land, and 15 percent by sea.

During the Eid Al-Fitr holidays, the country recorded its highest holiday visitor count in three years, attracting 214,000 travelers over an eight-day period — a 26 percent increase from 2024. Nearly half (49 percent) of those visitors came from GCC countries, representing an 18 percent year-on-year rise. Hotel occupancy during this period reached 77 percent, up from 67 percent the previous year.

The hospitality industry reported robust performance overall in Q1, with an average hotel occupancy rate of 71 percent and 2.6 million room nights sold. Key drivers included major international events such as Web Summit Qatar, the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition, and the Qatar International Food Festival.

Reinforcing its position as a regional tourism hub, Qatar also hosted the 51st UN Tourism Regional Committee for the Middle East. The gathering focused on leveraging the country's strengths in sports, innovation, and infrastructure to promote sustainable tourism across the region.

Looking ahead, Qatar is set to continue its tourism push with a strong slate of upcoming events. The country will annually host the T100 Triathlon World Championship Final in partnership with the Professional Triathletes Organization through 2030. Additional highlights include the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, the Visit Qatar E1 Grand Prix of Electric Boats, and a series of high-profile festivals and sports events, all aimed at enriching Qatar’s tourism offerings and supporting its continued growth.