Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding outbound luxury travel market is drawing global attention as the Kingdom Business & Luxury Travel (KBLT) Congress 2026 opened in Riyadh, bringing together more than 100 pre qualified Saudi travel buyers and leading international tourism brands.
The fifth edition of the two-day congress, taking place on September 6-7 at the Mövenpick Hotel and Residences Riyadh, comes at a time when Saudi travelers are emerging as an increasingly influential force in the global luxury tourism industry. The event is providing a platform for destinations, tourism companies, and industry leaders to respond to a market whose expectations are evolving well beyond traditional luxury.
Saudi Outbound Tourism Spending Poised To Cross $30 Billion
Saudi Arabia’s outbound tourism expenditure is projected to exceed US$30.7 billion (SAR 115 billion) in 2026, supported by an estimated 12.3 million international outbound trips during the year. The growth is particularly pronounced in the luxury segment, which is valued at approximately US$13.5 billion in 2026 and is forecast to surpass US$25 billion by 2033. The figures underline the growing commercial significance of Saudi visitors for international destinations, airlines, hotels and tourism businesses competing for high-value visitors.
The expansion is also signalling a broader change in visitors’ behaviour, with luxury increasingly being defined not simply by premium accommodation, but by personalized experiences, exclusivity, flexibility and meaningful engagement with destinations.
Luxury Travellers Are Looking Beyond Five Star Hospitality
Industry leaders at KBLT 2026 said Saudi luxury visitors are becoming more sophisticated in their travel choices, raising expectations for destinations seeking to capture this valuable market. Sulaiman Al Romi, Chairman of the KBLT Congress Advisory Board and Chairman and CEO of Gulf Reps Ltd., said the Saudi luxury tourism market has matured rapidly, with travelers increasingly moving toward curated, purpose-driven, and highly personalized experiences.
According to Al Romi, contemporary Saudi luxury and business travelers are seeking cultural immersion, wellness, privacy, and seamless bespoke services. Their growing international tourism experience and digital awareness are also making them more selective, with authenticity and exclusivity increasingly taking precedence over standardized luxury offerings. The shift presents destinations with a clear challenge: simply offering high-end hotels and conventional sightseeing packages may no longer be enough to secure a strong position in the Saudi market.
The New Competition Is For Experiences, Not Hotel Rooms
The changing preferences of Saudi travelers are also reshaping how destinations approach tourism product development. Daniel Ponzo, Managing Director of Zahid Travel Group in Saudi Arabia, said travelers are increasingly choosing destinations based on the story and quality of the experience, rather than a hotel brand alone.
He highlighted the growing importance of authentic experiences, discretion, flexible schedules and genuinely bespoke services. Many destinations, he noted, continue to sell accommodation and standard itineraries without sufficiently adapting their products to the expectations of Saudi luxury travelers. This creates an opening for destinations capable of offering carefully designed experiences built around culture, nature, wellness, privacy and personalized service.
Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Transformation Adds Momentum
The growing influence of Saudi outbound travellers comes alongside the Kingdom’s own transformation into a major international tourism market. Waleed Bin Huzaim, Strategic Communication and International Protocol Consultant to the Government Sector in Saudi Arabia, said the country’s tourism narrative has evolved from communicating future ambitions to demonstrating experiences that visitors can experience today.
That transformation is strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position within the global tourism industry not only as an emerging destination, but also as an increasingly important source market for international travel.
KBLT Connects Saudi Buyers With Global Tourism Industry
The KBLT Congress is bringing Saudi travel buyers into direct contact with international destinations and tourism brands seeking to understand and capture the Kingdom’s rapidly changing outbound demand. Sidh NC, Director of QnA International, said the congress has evolved alongside Saudi Arabia’s outbound tourism market and now serves as an important meeting point between Saudi buyers and the global tourism industry.
With outbound spending projected to exceed US$30 billion this year and the luxury segment expected to nearly double in value by 2033, Saudi Arabia is becoming a market that international destinations can no longer afford to overlook. For the global tourism industry, the message emerging from KBLT 2026 is clear: the next phase of luxury travel will be defined less by how much travelers spend and more by how deeply destinations understand what they value.
