Saudi Arabia recorded a 29 percent year-on-year increase in active commercial registrations for tourist accommodation facility management by the end of the third quarter of 2026, according to the Ministry of Commerce figures reported by Saudi Gazette.
The Kingdom has 20,560 active commercial registrations in the sector, compared with 15,965 at the end of the third quarter of 2025. This represents an increase of 4,595 registrations over the 12-month period.
Makkah recorded the highest number, with 8,075 active registrations, followed by Riyadh with 7,110 and Madinah with 1,988. The Eastern Province ranked fourth with 1,456 registrations.
The figures reflect growth in registered tourist accommodation businesses, although they do not indicate the number of operational hotels or available rooms.
The increase comes as Saudi Arabia prepares for further growth in international tourism.
According to a Tourism Economics report presented at WTM Spotlight Riyadh, international leisure arrivals are forecast to increase by 93 percent between 2025 and 2030, compared with the global average of 30 percent.
Meanwhile, STR forecasts Riyadh’s revenue per available room (RevPAR) to increase by 18.6 percent in 2027, supported by corporate and leisure demand.
Investment is also extending into regional destinations. The Tourism Development Fund previously facilitated seven tourism projects in Al-Ahsa, representing more than SAR2 billion in investment.
The projects are expected to add more than 700 hotel rooms, supporting the development of tourism accommodation in the Eastern Province.
Credit: hoteliermiddleeast
