Al Ahsa attracts 3.2M tourists in 2024, up 500% from 2019: Minister

Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said that Al Ahsa attracted more than 3.2 million domestic and international tourists in 2024, an increase of 500% compared to 2019.

The total tourist spending exceeded SAR 3.3 billion during the past year, with an estimated growth rate of 400% from 2019, the minister said at the Al Ahsa Forum 2025.

This positive performance came hand in hand with the development of tourism infrastructure in the province, he noted.

There is a qualitative shift in Al Ahsa’s hospitality sector, Al-Khateeb said. The number of licensed tourist facilities in the governorate grew by 52% compared to 2023, while the number of licensed rooms reached 2,700 rooms by the end of 2024.

The Tourism Development Fund financed a number of qualitative projects in the governorate, most notably the Hilton Al Ahsa Hotel in the five-star category, in addition to Radisson Blu and Hilton Garden Inn and other tourism projects, he said.