The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reported robust growth in the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, with the region expanding by 5.3% in 2025, well above the global average of 4.1%. This performance reinforces the Middle East’s position as one of the fastest-growing travel markets worldwide, especially Saudi Arabia.
- Strong Regional Momentum Driven by Visitor Spending and Connectivity
- Saudi Arabia Emerges as the Region’s Growth Engine
- Business Travel Emerges as a Key Growth Driver
- Regional Markets Maintain Upward Trajectory
- Resilience Amid Challenges Strengthens Long-Term Outlook
- Investment and Collaboration Key to Sustaining Growth
According to WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), the region continues to benefit from rising international demand, improved connectivity, and strong domestic travel activity. As a result, governments and private stakeholders are increasingly prioritising tourism as a core economic driver.
Strong Regional Momentum Driven by Visitor Spending and Connectivity
The Middle East’s travel sector showed consistent momentum across key indicators. Notably, international visitor spending increased by 5.2%, outperforming the global average of 3.2%. This growth reflects both rising global interest and improved access to destinations across the region.
Moreover, the sector contributed $385.8 billion to regional GDP in 2025 and supported approximately 7.1 million jobs, underlining its expanding economic footprint. As connectivity improves and destinations diversify, the region continues to attract a broader mix of leisure and business travellers.
Saudi Arabia Emerges as the Region’s Growth Engine
Saudi Arabia remains the central force behind the region’s tourism expansion. The Kingdom accounted for $178 billion in tourism GDP, representing 46% of the Middle East’s total travel economy.
Importantly, Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism GDP grew by 7.4% in 2025, nearly double the global rate. This growth also exceeded the regional average by a significant margin, highlighting the country’s aggressive investment strategy and expanding global appeal.
In addition, international visitor spending rose by 8.2%, further demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s increasing attractiveness as a global destination. The country’s focus on large-scale tourism projects, cultural experiences, and infrastructure development continues to yield strong results.
Business Travel Emerges as a Key Growth Driver
Business travel has become a major catalyst for growth across the region. In Saudi Arabia alone, business travel spending surged by over 55%, signalling its rising prominence as a hub for global events, conferences, and investments.
Across the Middle East, business travel spending increased by 23% in 2025. This trend reflects a renewed demand for in-person engagements and the region’s expanding role in hosting international business gatherings.
Regional Markets Maintain Upward Trajectory
While Saudi Arabia leads, other Middle Eastern markets also delivered strong performances. The United Arab Emirates recorded $68.5 billion in tourism GDP, alongside $56.9 billion in international visitor spending, maintaining its status as a global travel hub.
Meanwhile, Jordan posted 5.5% growth in tourism GDP, with international visitor spending reaching $8.5 billion. Similarly, Oman achieved 5.5% growth, supported by $4 billion in visitor spending. Together, these markets highlight the region’s broad-based and sustained growth.
Resilience Amid Challenges Strengthens Long-Term Outlook
Despite regional uncertainties, the Middle East’s tourism sector continues to demonstrate resilience. WTTC expects recovery to accelerate further once long-term stability improves.
At the same time, strong fundamentals—such as infrastructure investment, policy support, and strategic location—continue to underpin the sector’s upward trajectory. These factors position the region as a critical node in global travel and trade.
Investment and Collaboration Key to Sustaining Growth
Looking ahead, WTTC emphasises the importance of sustained investment in infrastructure, connectivity, and destination development. Equally important is the focus on high-value tourism and business travel.
Furthermore, stronger public-private collaboration will help enhance the travel ecosystem. As a result, countries across the Middle East can boost visitor spending, generate employment, and ensure long-term economic gains.
Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, stated that the Middle East’s performance reflects both resilience and long-term potential. She highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leadership role, noting that its growth significantly outpaced global benchmarks.
