Saudi Arabia is set to add 94,500 hotel rooms to its 171,650-key market as part of a luxury‑led expansion across key destinations, new Knight Frank data shows.
The additions sit within a wider pipeline of 358,000 planned rooms as the kingdom responds to rising tourism demand and gears up for upcoming mega-events.
Of the total planned supply, 252,000 rooms are slated for the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah, with nearly two thirds (64%) positioned in the four- and five-star categories. The capital, Riyadh, is also expanding rapidly, with an anticipated 19% increase in hotel keys to reach 30,330 by 2027.
This supply boom aims to support surging visitation and a growing preference for higher-end stays. Saudi currently has 171,650 operational keys, but occupancy is being fuelled by a steady rise in non-religious international travellers, who now make up 59% of total international arrivals, up from 44% in 2019, according to Knight Frank.
The momentum is set to continue ahead of major global events including Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, which are expected to further boost visitation and investment. More
By Kate Birch https://connectingtravel.com/
