The Middle East is experiencing strong Travel & Tourism growth, with the sector expanding by 5.3% in 2025, outpacing the global average of 4.1% and reinforcing the region’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic travel markets. Saudi Arabia leads this growth, accounting for 46% of the region’s total tourism economy, according to the WTTC.
TT Bureau
World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC’s) latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) highlights the Middle East region’s strong performance across key indicators, including international visitor spending, domestic travel, and business travel. Travel & Tourism in the region continues to outperform, with growth exceeding the global average and also surpassing the wider regional economy. International visitor spending rose 5.2 per cent, compared to 3.2 per cent globally, reflecting strong demand and increasing global connectivity. The region’s Travel & Tourism sector contributed $385.8 billion to GDP in 2025, supporting 7.1 million jobs.
Saudi Arabia drives regional momentum
At the heart of this growth is Saudi Arabia, the largest Travel & Tourism economy in the region, accounting for $178 billion in GDP and 46 per cent of the Middle East’s total Travel & Tourism economy. The Kingdom continues to deliver standout performance, with Travel & Tourism GDP growing 7.4 per cent in 2025, nearly double the global sector growth rate of 4.1 per cent, and 40 per cent higher than the regional Middle East average of 5.3 per cent.
International visitor spending also rose 8.2 per cent, significantly outperforming the global average of 3.2 per cent, further underlining Saudi Arabia’s growing appeal as a leading global destination and its position as a leader in the region. Business travel has been a particularly strong driver, with spending increasing by over 55 per cent.
Unlocking continued long-term growth
WTTC’s research highlights that sustained investment in infrastructure, connectivity, and destination development, alongside a focus on high-value travel and business tourism, will be critical to maintaining this momentum over time. Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC, said, “The Middle East continued to deliver strong Travel & Tourism growth in 2025, with Saudi Arabia playing a central role in driving this success.”
