Middle East travel sector outpaces global growth as Saudi Arabia leads expansion - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

The Middle East continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s most dynamic travel markets. According to new research by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the region’s Travel & Tourism sector grew by 5.3% in 2025, significantly above the global average of 4.1%. The findings underline robust performance across key indicators, including international visitor spending, domestic travel and business travel.

Strong growth across key indicators

The sector’s contribution to regional GDP reached 385.8 billion US dollars in 2025, supporting 7.1 million jobs. International visitor spending rose by 5.2%, outperforming the global rate of 3.2% and reflecting increasing global connectivity and sustained demand.

Overall, Travel & Tourism in the Middle East is not only expanding faster than the global sector but also outpacing the broader regional economy, reinforcing its growing economic significance.

Saudi Arabia drives regional performance

At the centre of this growth is Saudi Arabia, the largest Travel & Tourism economy in the region. The Kingdom generated 178 billion US dollars in sector GDP, accounting for 46% of the Middle East’s total Travel & Tourism economy.

Saudi Arabia recorded growth of 7.4% in 2025, nearly double the global sector rate and around 40% higher than the regional average. International visitor spending increased by 8.2%, further strengthening its position as a leading global destination.

Business travel has been a key driver of this expansion, with spending rising by more than 55%. This reflects the country’s increasing role as a hub for international business, events and investment.

Broad-based growth across the region

Other markets in the region also posted solid results. The United Arab Emirates reached 68.5 billion US dollars in Travel & Tourism GDP, supported by 56.9 billion US dollars in international visitor spending. Jordan recorded 5.5% growth, with visitor spending reaching 8.5 billion US dollars, while Oman achieved similar growth of 5.5% alongside 4.0 billion US dollars in international visitor spending.

These figures point to continued momentum across key Gulf and regional markets.

Business travel accelerates demand

Across the Middle East, business travel is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments. Spending increased by 23% in 2025, driven by rising demand for in-person meetings and the region’s growing role as a host for global conferences and major events.

Resilience and long-term potential

Despite recent regional challenges, the Travel & Tourism sector demonstrates strong resilience. Recovery is expected to remain robust, supported by sustained investment, strategic geographic positioning and expanding international connectivity.

The WTTC highlights that continued investment in infrastructure, destination development and high-value tourism will be essential to maintaining growth. Strengthened public-private cooperation is also seen as a key factor in unlocking further economic benefits.

Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of 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 and emerging as a leader in the region, with growth nearly double the global average.”

She added: “The Middle East’s performance in 2025 highlighted the strength and long-term potential of Travel & Tourism, with the sector continuing to act as a key driver of economic growth, job creation, and international connectivity across the region.”

Image Credit: © WTTC