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Saudi Arabia secured the 29th position globally in the World Economic Forum's 2026 Travel and Tourism Development Index. According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom's standing has demonstrated steady growth, climbing 17 spots since 2019 and advancing three places compared to the 2024 ranking. This advancement underscores the accelerated expansion of the local tourism infrastructure under Vision 2030 initiatives.
This continuous improvement highlights the rising competitiveness of the Saudi non-oil sector and its capacity to attract foreign direct investment. For equity markets, the development bolsters positive sentiment toward listed hospitality, aviation, and retail sectors on the Tadawul exchange. As the national economy diversifies, tourism is emerging as a core driver of GDP growth, reducing long-term reliance on crude oil revenues.
Moving forward, investors will watch for sustained capital expenditure in major giga-projects like NEOM, Red Sea, and Qiddiya. Strategic milestones, international visitor targets, and corporate earnings from listed tourism and services firms will serve as primary indicators for long-term sector profitability.
