Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Arrivals of tourists from abroad was 29.73 million arrivals in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Saudi Arabia, 1995–2024
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 29.73 million arrivals for arrivals of tourists from abroad in 2024. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is up 8.4% on the previous year and up 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad in Saudi Arabia peaked at 29.73 million arrivals in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.33 million arrivals, in 1995.
Saudi Arabia ranks 10th of 203 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3.33 million arrivals | — |
| 2000 | 6.58 million arrivals | +98.0% |
| 2001 | 6.73 million arrivals | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 7.51 million arrivals | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 7.33 million arrivals | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 8.60 million arrivals | +17.3% |
| 2005 | 8.04 million arrivals | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 8.62 million arrivals | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 11.53 million arrivals | +33.8% |
| 2008 | 14.76 million arrivals | +28.0% |
| 2009 | 10.90 million arrivals | -26.2% |
| 2010 | 10.85 million arrivals | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 14.18 million arrivals | +30.7% |
| 2012 | 16.33 million arrivals | +15.2% |
| 2013 | 15.77 million arrivals | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 18.26 million arrivals | +15.8% |
| 2015 | 17.99 million arrivals | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 18.04 million arrivals | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 16.11 million arrivals | -10.7% |
| 2018 | 15.33 million arrivals | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 17.53 million arrivals | +14.3% |
| 2020 | 4.14 million arrivals | -76.4% |
| 2021 | 3.48 million arrivals | -16.0% |
| 2022 | 16.64 million arrivals | +378.5% |
| 2023 | 27.42 million arrivals | +64.8% |
| 2024 | 29.73 million arrivals | +8.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 29.73 million arrivals is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.67 million arrivals, 8.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 29.73 million arrivals is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.66 million arrivals, 11.2× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +378.5% | 3.48 million arrivals | 16.64 million arrivals |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.33 million arrivals | 3.33 million arrivals | 3.33 million arrivals | 1 |
| 2000s | 9.06 million arrivals | 6.58 million arrivals | 14.76 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.04 million arrivals | 10.85 million arrivals | 18.26 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.28 million arrivals | 3.48 million arrivals | 29.73 million arrivals | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
More reference data data for Saudi Arabia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1847 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1771 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 2.44 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.6194 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.2207 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 10.64 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.9641 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arrivals of tourists from abroad in Saudi Arabia?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Saudi Arabia was 29.73 million arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 29.73 million arrivals in 2024.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.33 million arrivals in 1995.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 10th out of 203 countries with data for 2024.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Arrivals of tourists from abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of trips by visitors who arrive from abroad and stay overnight.