Saudi Arabia’s heritage sites draw 6.5 million visitors

Sign up to our newsletters

Stay informed with the
latest news and analysis

REGISTER

عربي

You are viewing 1 of your 2 free articles

Al-Farid Palace is the largest Nabataean tomb in AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s historical and cultural sites attracted 6.5 million visitors in 2024, according to the Ministry of Culture, as the kingdom continues to promote the country’s heritage landmarks.

These figures back up recent findings from a PwC Middle East report that says visitors to the GCC are more interested in arts and culture than beaches and shopping malls, with expectations shifting in favour of destinations that offer “cultural meaning and emotional resonance”.

Visitors to Saudi will now find more of those culture-rich destinations, with the Ministry saying it has registered more than 25,000 architectural heritage sites as part of efforts to conserve the country’s cultural assets.

The Heritage Commission has also added more than 1,100 new sites to the National Register of Architectural Heritage, bringing the total to 3,646.

Connections travel trade event to launch in Saudi Arabia this year

Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah among Time 100’s most influential companies

The Ministry of Culture said the shift in awareness around the value of national heritage, aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, with culture and heritage being key pillars of the national strategy.

Cultural destinations such as Diriyah (the birthplace of the nation on the outskirts of Riyadh), AlUla (home to Saudi’s first Unesco World Heritage site, Hegra), and the historic Red Sea city of Jeddah were the most visited cultural sites, boosted by a calendar of events and festivals.

At-Turaif heritage site in Diriyah

These cultural destinations are fast gaining global recognition. Diriyah, a Unesco World Heritage Site and US$63 billion sustainable tourism development, is restoring and renovating the old Saudi capital as well as developing the destination as a dining, retail and hospitality hotspot.

Diriyah Art Futures was recently named in the 2025 World’s Most Beautiful list by architectural awards Prix Versailles, making it one of just seven museums selected globally and the only one from the Middle East.

In AlUla, the luxury heritage destination in north-western Saudi, the more temperate climate and its Summer Untold programme is attracting summer guests with special rates on stays and experiences.

Diriyah Art Futures

Beyond the ‘big three’ mentioned above, Saudi is keen to promote areas across the kingdom, especially during the summer months, with plans to attract 4.1 million visitors with the Saudi Tourism Authority’s Colour Your Summer campaign.

The campaign includes 600 new tourism products, with six distinct destinations including the cooler coastal escapes in Jeddah and the Red Sea and mountains of Taif, Al-Baha and Aseer, with Aseer Season returning with live performances, arts and family-friendly activities that showcase Saudi culture in the cool highlands.

Famed for its fragrant roses and perfume factories, key attractions in Taif include Al Hada Mountain, with its long cable car ride and trails, plus the Al Kar Tourist Village featuring a water park, and the Camel Festival in August.

Saudi Arabia welcomed 116 million visitors in 2024, an increase of 6.4% compared with 2023, and aims to reach 150 million by 2030.

For more information, visit www.moc.gov.sa