Makkah — Madinah’s annual tourism spending has soared by 22%, reaching 52 billion riyals with more than 21 million visitors in 2025.
Madinah recorded strong tourism performance in 2025 due to increased visitor numbers and capacity expansion in the hospitality sector, reflecting the growing importance of this religious destination on the country’s tourism map.
In parallel with the increase in demand, the number of licensed hospitality establishments in the Holy City has increased by 35% to 610, and the number of licensed rooms has increased by 24% to more than 76,000. The number of travel and tourism agencies also increased by 29% to more than 240, reflecting the expansion of activities related to supporting tourism services.
The tourism sector performance recorded in 2025 reflects the changing structure of Madinah’s tourism sector, moving from traditional seasonal growth to a more sustainable expansion based on diversifying supply, improving service quality and strengthening the sector’s contribution to the local economy.
To further boost the boom in the tourism industry, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb toured Madinah, which also included Jeddah and Mecca, as part of a field tour entitled “The Spirit of Ramadan”. The Minister inspected the preparedness of hospitality facilities and services in Madinah. He assessed the tourism sector’s preparations for the Ramadan season, monitored the level of services provided to visitors, and supported existing and new tourism projects.
Al Khatib said that over the past five years, a number of international hospitality projects and brands have entered Madinah’s tourism and hospitality sector. This not only reflects the growth of the sector in the region, but also underlines investors’ confidence in the successful establishment of the Saudi system. “Today’s situation is different. The sector is growing steadily and we have systems in place to empower investors and ease their journey. We have even greater expectations for the future,” he said.
During the tour, Al Khatib opened the Radisson Hotel Madina with an investment of over 39 million riyals, funded by the Tourism Development Fund. This initiative aims to attract more international hotel brands and improve the quality of services provided to visitors.
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