Gulf Region Leads Global Tourism, Saudi Arabia and UAE Top Arab Countries in 2024
The Gulf region has emerged as a global leader in tourism, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates topping the list of countries in tourism revenues for 2024.
Saudi Arabia secured the second spot with a remarkable $41 billion, marking a 14% increase. The UAE led the region with an impressive $57 billion, a 10% rise from the previous year. Egypt and Morocco followed, with $15.3 billion and $11.3 billion respectively. Notably, Jordan and Lebanon ranked sixth and seventh, while Tunisia came in ninth.
Bahrain experienced a 12% growth in tourism revenues, reaching $3.7 billion. Qatar placed fifth among countries with $8.4 billion. Kuwait posted the highest growth rate, soaring 35% to generate $2.3 billion. Overall, tourism revenues across the GCC countries surged in 2024.
While specific figures for 2025 are not yet available, Saudi Arabia continues to drive tourism development in the region, with over 106 million tourist arrivals in 2023 and ambitious Vision 2030 projects underway. The GCC's tourism industry remains robust and promising.
