Al-Khateeb says religious tourism falls to 50%, hotels ready for World Cup

Tourism Minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb

Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said religious tourism now makes up about 50% of total visitors to Saudi Arabia, down from nearly 60% earlier.

However, he added that although pilgrimage numbers are rising, the segment’s share of overall tourism is declining.

Speaking at the Fortune Global Forum 2025, Al-Khateeb said Saudi Arabia is “hotel-ready” to host the FIFA World Cup, noting that FIFA officials have inspected and confirmed the current capacity. The Kingdom plans to add 200,000 to 300,000 more rooms.

He added that the Kingdom has not yet decided on acquiring the Red Sea coastal area in Egypt, which is under development, as its current focus is on building local destinations such as Diriyah, Qiddiya, and Jeddah Central.

Al-Khateeb said Saudi Arabia remains open to developing tourism projects abroad, citing Saudi cruise operations and Red Sea Global’s plans to build a tourist destination in Italy.

He added that the Kingdom is building knowledge and skills to strengthen its domestic sector, noting that Saudi Arabia will have the expertise to share globally by 2030 and 2035.