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Tourism to match oil as biggest contributor to Ƶ’s economy by 2030, minister says

Tourism to match oil as biggest contributor to Ƶ’s economy by 2030, minister says
Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the minister of tourism, talks during a panel at the Saudi–US Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh. (Screengrab)
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Updated 14 May 2025

Tourism to match oil as biggest contributor to Ƶ’s economy by 2030, minister says

Tourism to match oil as biggest contributor to Ƶ’s economy by 2030, minister says
  • Kingdom is 1 of the 10 most-visited countries globally, receiving 30m international visitors in 2024
  • Country has opened doors to nearly 65 countries, electronic visas for tourists
  • Ministry of Tourism aims to welcome 50m international visitors by 2030

RIYADH: Ƶ is increasingly seen as a country of impressive mountains, stunning Red Sea islands, and a hospitable culture, with aspirations to make tourism as significant as oil to its economy by 2030, according to Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the minister of tourism.

Al-Khateeb made his remarks on Tuesday during a panel at the Saudi–US Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh, which included Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, the Saudi minister of municipalities and housing, and was chaired by Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas.

The minister said that the tourism sector had come a long way since the 2016 launch of Vision 2030, which established a plan to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and create a diverse economy.

The tourism and hospitality sectors have experienced a significant increase in visitors, rising from 50 million domestic and international tourists in 2019 to 115 million in 2024, which surpasses the target of 100 million tourists set for the industry under Vision 2030.

Ƶ was one of the 10 most-visited countries globally in 2024, receiving 30 million international visitors, Al-Khateeb said.

He added: “I’m excited. We are full of energy to build (this) new sector to unlock the potential we have in our great country and to share the beautiful culture with the visitors coming from all around the world.

“By 2030, the tourism sector will be, next to oil, the highest contributor to our economy.”

Ƶ had been viewed for decades as a country that mainly produced crude oil — making up 85 to 90 percent of its gross domestic product — and boasted hot weather and sand dunes, he said.

However, since 2016, significant changes have occurred. Oil now accounts for nearly 55 percent of the country’s GDP and, since 2019, the Kingdom has opened its borders to nearly 65 countries with electronic visas in operation, the minister added.

The spectacular mountain ranges of Asir and the beauty of AlUla are both attracting visitors, while Riyadh offered its own experiences, along with the Red Sea and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Khateeb said that well-educated, young Saudis were essential for the growth of the tourism sector, which had increased its workforce from 2 percent to 7 percent in less than a decade.

The ministry aims to welcome 50 million international tourists by 2030, placing the Kingdom among the top five most-visited countries, he added. It also plans to increase the sector’s GDP contribution from the current 5 percent to 10 percent in the same timeframe.

Al-Khateeb said: “We have created (a tourism) sector that will satisfy the different travelers of different segments who are coming for business or leisure and entertainment, or people who are coming for religious purposes to visit the two holy cities.”

The minister noted that the tourism sector had adopted best practices from the US, a leading country in the industry, attracting conferences, entertainment, and airline services.

He added: “We are working closely with our friends and partners in the US. We are sending young Saudis to get the best education in the US and the best vocational training (in tourism).”


Saudi aid agency KSrelief delivers food to needy

Saudi aid agency KSrelief delivers food to needy
Updated 11 June 2025

Saudi aid agency KSrelief delivers food to needy

Saudi aid agency KSrelief delivers food to needy
  • The distribution is a part of the 2025 emergency food and clothing aid project in Lebanon

RIYADH: Ƶ’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 360 food packages to vulnerable individuals in Lebanon’s cities of Tripoli and Jbeil, benefiting 1,800 people.

The distribution is a part of the 2025 emergency food and clothing aid project in Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the charity distributed 1,780 sacrificial animals in the Al-Madinah and Al-Wadi districts of Yemen’s Marib governorate on Sunday.

The initiative benefited 3,560 families under an Eid Al-Adha project in Yemen.


Newly appointed Saudi ambassador to Mexico presents his credentials

Newly appointed Saudi ambassador to Mexico presents his credentials
Updated 11 June 2025

Newly appointed Saudi ambassador to Mexico presents his credentials

Newly appointed Saudi ambassador to Mexico presents his credentials

RIYADH: Ƶ’s newly appointed ambassador to Mexico has presented his credentials to the North American state’s foreign ministry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Fahad bin Ali Al-Manawer handed over a copy of his credentials to Ambassador Jonathan Chait Auerbach, the director general of protocol at the ministry, at a reception held on Tuesday. 
The diplomats also reviewed relations between their nations at the meeting.
Al-Manawer took his oath of office in from to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March, in a ceremony attended by the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.


Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway
Updated 10 June 2025

Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway
  • Forum hosts global leaders and conflict mediators
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet foreign officials

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in the Norwegian capital on Tuesday to take part in the Oslo Forum.

The annual event, organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland, hosts global leaders and conflict mediators.

Prince Faisal will meet foreign officials to strengthen relations with the Kingdom and discuss various regional and international issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey
Updated 10 June 2025

What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey
  • Worshippers take to social media to share profound experiences with loved ones
  • Posting online becomes a way to process the weight of Hajj for many

RIYADH: For many pilgrims, the spiritual journey of Hajj does not end when they leave the holy sites. It continues — quietly, intentionally — in the days and weeks that follow.

Across Ƶ, young pilgrims are using social media to process the weight of Hajj and share the experience with loved ones.

Noor Ahmad, 21, did not plan to post during her pilgrimage. But after she returned, the urge to share came naturally.

After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments. But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?

Noor Ahmad

“After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments,” she said. “But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?”

She described how people responded in varied ways. “Those who had gone before felt nostalgic and started sharing their own stories. Others — those who hadn’t been yet — expressed their longing. It became this moment of connection.”

For Noor, the decision to post was not about aesthetics. “It’s a monumental event. Maybe I could inspire someone who’s hesitant to go. Maybe they’ll see what I saw — and want to experience it for themselves.

“It was my way of saying thank you”

Shatha Al-Jadaan, 25, took a different approach to sharing, after taking a digital detox.

I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.

Shatha Al-Jadaan

“During Hajj, I decided to partially fast from social media. I used only the essentials,” she said. “After I returned, I posted a thread to my close friends explaining where I’d been and shared some of the most meaningful moments.”

The response was full of prayers and warmth. “People were kind, supportive, and curious. But what mattered most to me was that I used the thread to say thank you — to the organizers, to the volunteers, and to Allah.”

She spoke about how she found value in using digital platforms to document something greater than herself.

“I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.”

Salem Al-Khudair, 28, recorded a voice note to his family group chat while performing the rites.

“I just couldn’t find the words to write. So I recorded myself speaking right after standing in Arafat. I sent it to my family WhatsApp group. My mom was emotional. My dad said, ‘May God accept from you.’ That was enough.”

In an age of curated content, Hajj posts tend to stand out for their sincerity. Pilgrims often strip away the filters, metaphors and trend-driven formats, and just speak from the heart.

Noura Al-Dosari, 23, uploaded a private Instagram story highlight with no captions. “Just visuals. No filters. No hashtags,” she said. “It wasn’t for followers. It was for me. For reflection. A digital bookmark of who I became.”

Some write long captions, others simply post a photo of their ihram folded neatly back into a drawer.

But all of them carry a silent message: I went. I came back different.

Many pilgrims use their posts to recall moments of physical hardship that brought emotional breakthroughs — the heat, the long walks, the brief but powerful connections with strangers.

Others use it to highlight the seamless organization of the pilgrimage as a reminder of how far the experience has evolved.

Amani Al-Saad, 26, used X to share a short story about a volunteer who helped her carry her bag in Muzdalifah. “She didn’t speak much, but she smiled at me and said, ‘This is what we’re here for.’ That stuck with me. I wrote about it as a reminder to myself — that sometimes the smallest moments hold the most meaning.”

While digital connections are increasingly common, most pilgrims emphasize that the real processing happens offline — in quiet conversations with family, in their prayer rooms, or on long drives home.

“I didn’t post to perform,” said Al-Jadaan. “I posted to remember.”

 


National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season
Updated 10 June 2025

National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season
  • The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems

MADINAH: The National Water Co. has confirmed it is operationally ready for the post-Hajj season.

The company said it would distribute more than 630,000 cubic meters of potable water daily to pilgrims at the Prophet’s Mosque and throughout Madinah and said its readiness built on ongoing efforts to serve pilgrims and visitors.

The plan involves more than 1,200 employees, including technical, administrative and engineering staff, working to provide water and environmental services.

The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Water will be supplied daily during the post-Hajj season through continuous pumping to the central area and religious sites. Chemical and biological tests will be conducted to ensure compliance with water quality standards.

The company said its smart operation system continues to manage and monitor Madinah’s water network, overseeing water pressure and quality in pipelines and reservoirs.