ع
The Saudi Ministry of Tourism announced revisions to four core regulations on September 11, 2026 as part of an effort to update the kingdom’s tourism framework. The changes cover travel and tourism services, tour guiding, hospitality facilities and private hospitality units. According to the ministry, the updates align standards with evolving business models and global best practices while incorporating feedback from investors, operators and beneficiaries. The ministry added that the revisions also aim to safeguard tourist rights and enhance overall service quality.
Under the revised travel and tourism services regulation, licensing categories have been simplified and operational flexibility has been expanded. The ministry reported that varied options for license durations have been introduced along with clearer definitions of service rights and obligations. These adjustments are intended to keep pace with the rapid growth of tourism activities.
The updated tour guiding regulation streamlines classification categories and permits guides to operate across multiple regions and disciplines. It regulates licensing procedures, qualification exams and allows direct booking arrangements as well as contracts with tourists. The ministry stated that such measures will improve efficiency and service delivery in the segment.
Updates to the hospitality facilities regulation address licensing, classification and operating procedures that include reservations, payments and online marketing. The ministry’s changes strengthen security and safety requirements, workforce qualification standards and electronic integration across facilities. Specialized categories have been added while classification is now more closely tied to licensing, operational quality and service benchmarks.
Similar refinements apply to the rules governing private hospitality units, focusing on compliance, quality and operational standards. The ministry indicated that the full set of revisions responds to input from sector participants and reflects current market realities. These adjustments form part of ongoing work to elevate the visitor experience across the kingdom.
The regulatory changes arrive after the Ministry of Tourism’s Annual Statistical Report for 2025 recorded nearly 123 million combined inbound and domestic tourists, representing a 6 percent increase from the previous year. The report placed total tourism spending at SR304 billion, with inbound visitors contributing SR176.6 billion and domestic tourism generating SR127.1 billion. International arrivals reached 29.3 million while domestic tourists numbered 93.3 million according to the ministry figures.
This performance has prompted Saudi authorities to raise the Vision 2030 tourism target to 150 million annual visitors by the end of the decade. The sector has emerged as a central element of non-oil economic growth, the ministry data shows. The updates are expected to support continued expansion by reducing regulatory friction for operators.
