Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund (TDF) has launched a new edition of its Tourism Hackathons Programme, opening registrations as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to build a homegrown innovation ecosystem around one of its fastest-growing sectors. Organised by TDF Grow, the Fund’s non-financial enablement arm, the nationwide programme aims to transform entrepreneurial ideas into scalable tourism solutions — from smarter accommodation concepts and digital booking platforms to rural tourism experiences and next-generation visitor services. The initiative forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to position tourism not just as an economic driver, but as a platform for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-led growth under Vision 2030.
Eight cities, one tourism innovation mission
This year’s hackathons will travel across eight Saudi cities — Riyadh, Makkah, Taif, Qassim, Hail, AlUla, Jeddah, and Khobar — significantly expanding the programme’s reach and opening access to talent across the Kingdom.
Participants will be challenged to develop solutions across key tourism growth areas including alternative accommodation, digital travel services, transport and booking solutions, tourism guiding, and experience design. The programme will also spotlight niche segments such as rural, cultural, religious, and medical tourism, all sectors expected to play a growing role in Saudi Arabia’s visitor economy.
Building on momentum
The latest launch builds on strong momentum from earlier editions held in 2024 and 2025, which covered six regions including Riyadh, Jeddah, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Aseer, and Madinah. Across those editions, the programme attracted more than 802 registrants and over 533 active participants, supporting the development of more than 128 startups. It also led to the creation of 50-plus commercial registrations, while connecting high-potential ventures with funding opportunities and strategic partners through the Kingdom’s Tourism Empowerment Programmes.
A startup play for Saudi tourism
Commenting on the launch, Qusai Al-Fakhri, Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Development Fund, said the initiative reinforces TDF’s role as a catalyst for tourism innovation. Talking about the programme, Al-Fakhri said: “At TDF, we are committed to strengthening the tourism innovation ecosystem by introducing initiatives that empower entrepreneurs to deliver solutions that improve experiences and increase service efficiency across destinations. The Tourism Hackathons serve as a platform to accelerate promising ideas and connect them to a broader support ecosystem, contributing to a more competitive and sustainable tourism sector.”
As Saudi Arabia targets 150 million annual visitors by 2030 and continues investing heavily in giga-projects, heritage destinations, and digital infrastructure, programmes such as the TDF hackathons are increasingly seen as vital to building local intellectual capital around tourism. By connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and industry stakeholders, the programme signals that the future of Saudi tourism may be shaped as much in startup labs and coding sessions as in hotels and heritage sites.
