The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reported that the Middle East's travel and tourism sector is set to grow by 5.3% in 2025, surpassing the global average of 4.1%. Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of this expansion, with its travel and tourism GDP projected to increase by 7.4%, nearly double the global rate. The Kingdom's international visitor spending is expected to rise by 8.2%, and business travel spending is anticipated to soar by over 55%.
The Middle East's travel and tourism sector contributed $385.8 billion to GDP in 2025, supporting 7.1 million jobs. Saudi Arabia, the region's largest travel economy, accounted for $178 billion of this GDP, representing 46% of the Middle East's total. The UAE and Jordan also showed robust performance, with the UAE's sector reaching $68.5 billion in GDP and Jordan experiencing 5.5% growth.
Business travel is a significant growth driver, with spending across the Middle East rising by 23% in 2025. This reflects increased demand for in-person engagements and the region's expanding role in hosting major international events.
Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of WTTC, stated, “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.”
The WTTC emphasises that continued investment in infrastructure and connectivity, along with a focus on high-value travel, will be crucial for sustaining this growth trajectory
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