Spending by foreign tourists in Saudi Arabia reached about SAR 159.9 billion in 2025, up 4% compared to SAR 153.6 billion in 2024, thus marking the highest annual spending level on record.
According to balance of payments data issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), spending by travelers from Saudi Arabia abroad increased by 7% to reach SAR 110.4 billion in 2025, compared to about SAR 103.4 billion in 2024.
Based on the data, Saudi Arabia recorded a travel surplus of SAR 49.4 billion in 2025 balance of payments.
The travel surplus represents the difference between the spending of those arriving to the Kingdom and those departing from it for travel purposes.
Details of Travel Spending in 2025 Balance of Payments (SAR bln)
Details
2024
2025
Change
Spending of Inbound Tourism
153.6
159.9
4%
Spending of Outbound Tourism
103.4
110.4
7%
Surplus
+ 50.3
+ 49.4
(2%)
Details of Travel Spending in Balance of Payments since 2016 (SAR bln)
Period
Spending of inbound tourism
Spending of Outbound Tourism
Surplus/deficit
2016
41.6
62.5
(20.9)
2017
45.2
65.8
(20.6)
2018
51.7
62.4
(10.7)
2019
61.6
56.8
+4.8
2020
15.1
33.2
(18.1)
2021
14.3
45.7
(31.4)
2022
94.5
59.7
+ 34.8
2023
135.0
88.8
+ 46.2
2024**
153.6
103.4
+ 50.3
2025 ***
159.9
110.4
+ 49.4
**Preliminary data
*** Estimated data
Spending by foreign tourists in Saudi Arabia reached about SAR 159.9 billion in 2025, up 4% compared to SAR 153.6 billion in 2024, thus marking the highest annual spending level on record.
According to balance of payments data issued by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), spending by travelers from Saudi Arabia abroad increased by 7% to reach SAR 110.4 billion in 2025, compared to about SAR 103.4 billion in 2024.
Based on the data, Saudi Arabia recorded a travel surplus of SAR 49.4 billion in 2025 balance of payments.
The travel surplus represents the difference between the spending of those arriving to the Kingdom and those departing from it for travel purposes.
Details of Travel Spending in 2025 Balance of Payments (SAR bln)
Details
2024
2025
Change
Spending of Inbound Tourism
153.6
159.9
4%
Spending of Outbound Tourism
103.4
110.4
7%
Surplus
+ 50.3
+ 49.4
(2%)
Details of Travel Spending in Balance of Payments since 2016 (SAR bln)
Period
Spending of inbound tourism
Spending of Outbound Tourism
Surplus/deficit
2016
41.6
62.5
(20.9)
2017
45.2
65.8
(20.6)
2018
51.7
62.4
(10.7)
2019
61.6
56.8
+4.8
2020
15.1
33.2
(18.1)
2021
14.3
45.7
(31.4)
2022
94.5
59.7
+ 34.8
2023
135.0
88.8
+ 46.2
2024**
153.6
103.4
+ 50.3
2025 ***
159.9
110.4
+ 49.4
**Preliminary data
*** Estimated data
