New idle land regulations come into effect
The rules apply to all vacant land within approved urban boundaries, with the minister determining eligible land uses for each city while they cover individual plots of 5,000 square meters or more, or combined holdings of that size within a single city.
Minister Majed Al-Hogail said the framework targets improved market efficiency, faster urban development, higher supply, balanced demand, and greater homeownership opportunities for citizens.
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Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
International tourists visiting Kingdom set to reach 70% of total
Saudi tourism is competing with itself, breaking its own records every year in both the number of local and international tourists and in tourism revenues. The number of tourists reached 115.9 million in 2024, with revenues estimated at SR283 billion ($75.5 billion). Both figures represent an unprecedented leap in Saudi travel history. Foreign tourists from outside the Kingdom reached 29.7 million, spending about SR169 billion ($45 billion). Between 2016 and 2024 the number of these tourists increased by 69 percent. Saudi Arabia plans to invest about $800 billion in tourism by 2030, aiming to host 150 million visitors over the next five years, with 70 percent of them being international tourists. Evidence of its rapid progress is seen in the International Air Transport Association's Air Connectivity Index, in which the Kingdom jumped from 27th to 13th place globally. Since 2021, Saudi Arabia has been implementing its Air Connectivity Program to link its cities with 250 destinations worldwide. Remarkably, the Kingdom's tourism journey spans less than five years, making its achievements nothing short of extraordinary. In this short time, Saudi Arabia has overtaken long-established Arab tourism leaders, notably Egypt with its ancient pharaonic heritage, iconic landmarks and decades of tourism expertise. In Fitch's 2023 global tourism revenue rankings, Egypt trailed behind the Saudi giant, despite the fact that Saudi tourist visas were only introduced in 2019. According to the Passport Index, Egypt allows citizens of 119 countries to enter with or without a visa, while Saudi Arabia extends such access to only 66 countries. Yet this significant gap in visa accessibility has not stopped the Kingdom from surpassing its neighbor. Madinah has been named one of the top 100 global tourist destinations, and the enchanting city of AlUla was the first tourist destination in the Middle East accredited by the National Destination scheme. All these achievements confirm the strength of Saudi Arabia in the tourism sector, especially compared with other Arab and Middle Eastern countries. In addition to the above, hosting the 2034 World Cup is expected to have a major impact on Saudi tourism, similar to Qatar's experience with the tournament in 2022. According to a Bloomberg report, Qatar's World Cup contributed to a 58 percent year-on-year increase in tourist numbers in the country in 2023, not to mention the astronomical numbers during the tournament itself. For this reason, Saudi Arabia is currently working on marketing its tourist destinations ahead of Expo 2030 and the World Cup. Evidence of this includes hosting the first Middle East office of the World Tourism Organization in Riyadh, and signing a deal with in 2024 to publicize Saudi destinations in the Chinese, Indian and European markets. A direct result of this was the arrival of 150,000 Chinese tourists that same year, with the number expected to increase to 5 million annually in the coming years. The Saudi Tourism Authority is making significant efforts in this regard, such as opening 16 offices in major cities like London, Paris, Beijing and Shanghai. It is also marketing Saudi tourism projects using the 'Saudi Spirit' branding which was displayed in a number of cities across the world, including on a large building in New York's Times Square. Bodies attempting to correct misconceptions about the Kingdom, especially among international tourists, include the efforts of the Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Health. The Public Prosecution, for example, has established a dedicated Tourism Prosecution Office at domestic and international airports, as well as at its main headquarters. This office assists travelers who encounter legal issues, ensuring their cases are processed swiftly — making them feel valued as guests in the Kingdom. The Ministry of Health has also introduced the Mawid app, allowing tourists to book appointments at the nearest healthcare center at minimal financial cost. Tourism accounts for 10 percent of the global economy — about $11 trillion — and a similar percentage of the world's workforce, or about 300 million jobs. Saudi Arabia needs to capture a larger share of the pie and aims to break the trillion-riyal revenue barrier. It has created 200,000 jobs so far, with a target of 800,000 by 2030, and I hope it will be possible to exceed 1 million jobs before this date. These are all achievable aspirations, as the Kingdom's vision, led by its architect Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, knows no 'impossible,' and can lead Saudis to a world of prominence in tourism and beyond. • Dr. Bader bin Saud is a columnist for Al-Riyadh newspaper, a media and knowledge management researcher, an expert and university professor in crowd management and strategic planning, and the former deputy commander of the special forces for Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia. X: @BaderbinSaud.
Saudi Gazette
9 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia approves digital ID use for non-resident foreigners to own property
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Saudi Gazette
10 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia launches media scholarship track to develop local talent
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Media have signed a cooperation agreement to launch the 'Media Scholarship' initiative aimed at training and qualifying Saudi talents in top global media companies and educational institutions. The initiative will begin with the 'Waed' track for the media sector, one of the tracks under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, offering study-abroad opportunities linked to employment in media. The program will target specializations in high-demand fields such as digital media, artificial intelligence in media, content production technologies, augmented and virtual reality, digital journalism, publishing, and platform management. The memorandum of cooperation was signed in the presence of Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan and Media Minister Salman Al-Dosari. Representing the Ministry of Media was Undersecretary for Strategy and Vision Realization Majed Al-Thaqafi, and representing the Ministry of Education was Undersecretary for Scholarship Lina Al-Tuaimi. Al-Thaqafi said the program, offered in partnership with the private sector, will provide training opportunities in 15 countries, leading to diplomas, bachelor's, and master's degrees in media disciplines based on industry needs. The Ministry of Media will submit requirement forms from interested companies to the Ministry of Education for program approval and agreements with private sector entities. A workshop was held on Thursday at the General Commission for Audiovisual Media with more than 35 private sector participants from the media, advertising, journalism, gaming, and audiovisual production sectors to define training and hiring needs. Available seats for students are expected to be announced within 60 days.
