Saudi tourism facilities growth reaches 22.7% in Q1 2026 as licensed hospitality establishments, jobs and visitor stays increase
Saudi Arabia’s licensed tourism facilities increased by 22.7 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, with the Kingdom recording continued expansion in its hospitality sector as part of its broader tourism development drive.
According to figures from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), the number of licensed tourism hospitality facilities reached 6,122 between January and March 2026, reflecting rising investment and demand within the sector.
The growth was driven largely by serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities, which accounted for 3,159 establishments, representing 51.6 per cent of the market. Hotels followed with 2,963 facilities, making up 48.4 per cent of the total.
The latest Saudi tourism facilities growth figures also showed a rise in employment linked to tourism activities, highlighting the sector’s increasing role in the Kingdom’s economy.
The number of tourism establishments with employees grew by 9 per cent annually to approximately 177,031, compared with 162,473 during the same period in 2025.
Overall employment across tourism-related activities increased by 6.5 per cent to 1.05 million workers. Saudi nationals accounted for 250,094 employees, representing 23.9 per cent of the workforce, while non-Saudis made up 76.1 per cent with 797,219 workers.
Accommodation performance recorded mixed results during the quarter. Hotel room occupancy stood at 60.8 per cent, slightly lower than the 63 per cent recorded a year earlier.
However, serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities experienced improved occupancy, rising to 51.6 per cent from 50.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2025.
Visitor stays also showed positive movement, with hotel guests spending an average of 4.2 nights, a 2 per cent increase compared with the previous year. Average stays in serviced apartments and similar facilities rose to 2.2 nights.
The figures underline Saudi Arabia’s expanding tourism infrastructure as the country continues efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil through major investments in travel, hospitality and visitor experiences.
The sector’s growth aligns with the Kingdom’s wider economic transformation strategy, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a leading global tourism destination while creating new employment opportunities.
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