AI Summary
Spending by foreign tourists in Saudi Arabia reached about SAR 159.9 billion in 2025, up 4% compared to SAR 153.6 billion in 2024, thus marking the highest annual spending level on record.
According to balance of payments data issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), spending by travelers from Saudi Arabia abroad increased by 7% to reach SAR 110.4 billion in 2025, compared to about SAR 103.4 billion in 2024.
Based on the data, Saudi Arabia recorded a travel surplus of SAR 49.4 billion in 2025 balance of payments.
The travel surplus represents the difference between the spending of those arriving to the Kingdom and those departing from it for travel purposes.
|
Details of Travel Spending in 2025 Balance of Payments (SAR bln) |
|||
|
Details |
2024 |
2025 |
Change |
|
Spending of Inbound Tourism |
153.6 |
159.9 |
4% |
|
Spending of Outbound Tourism |
103.4 |
110.4 |
7% |
|
Surplus |
+ 50.3 |
+ 49.4 |
(2%) |
|
Details of Travel Spending in Balance of Payments since 2016 (SAR bln) |
|||
|
Period |
Spending of inbound tourism
|
Spending of Outbound Tourism |
Surplus/deficit |
|
2016 |
41.6 |
62.5 |
(20.9) |
|
2017 |
45.2 |
65.8 |
(20.6) |
|
2018 |
51.7 |
62.4 |
(10.7) |
|
2019 |
61.6 |
56.8 |
+4.8 |
|
2020 |
15.1 |
33.2 |
(18.1) |
|
2021 |
14.3 |
45.7 |
(31.4) |
|
2022 |
94.5 |
59.7 |
+ 34.8 |
|
2023 |
135.0 |
88.8 |
+ 46.2 |
|
2024** |
153.6 |
103.4 |
+ 50.3 |
|
2025 *** |
159.9 |
110.4 |
+ 49.4 |
**Preliminary data
*** Estimated data
Be the first to comment
Comments Analysis: