Saudi Arabia is turning into a must-visit vacation spot for Europeans. Listed here are the most effective locations to go to.
As soon as the “best-kept secret” from travellers worldwide, Saudi Arabia is now a must-visit vacation spot for Europeans.
Talking at ITB Berlin 2025, the CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Fahd Hamidaddin, advised Euronews Journey that European visits surged by 24 per cent in 2024 and that the nation is quickly turning into a worldwide sports activities hub – internet hosting extra occasions than Las Vegas.
From upcoming premier sporting occasions just like the World Cup 2034 to luxurious journey experiences alongside the Crimson Sea shoreline and even desert tenting within the starry-skied desert, Saudi Arabia is assembly a complete host of travellers’ needs, making it an excellent ‘better of each worlds’ vacation spot for company who’ve very totally different pursuits.
There are extra European guests in Saudi than anyplace else
“Saudi Arabia has been the most effective and the most important secret stored from travellers around the globe,” says Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority.
“Final yr we witnessed the very best development coming from Europe, with 24 per cent development from Europe alone, out of which 44 per cent had been girls.
“After we began in 2019, our ambition was to hit 100 million visits by 2030. By the tip of 2023, we exceeded 106 million.
“Now, the brand new goal is 150 million, and we’re persevering with to develop in double digits yearly. For the previous 4 years, we have been the fastest-growing vacation spot on the planet.”
From the gorgeous Crimson Sea shoreline to huge desert landscapes and world-class sporting occasions, Saudi Arabia presents a singular mix of journey tradition and luxurious.
Listed here are the most effective methods to find the Kingdom in 2025.
From World Cup to Grand Prix: The world’s premier sporting vacation spot
Saudi Arabia has shortly established itself as a key participant in international sports activities tourism.
World-class athletes Christiano Ronaldo, Tyson Fury and Max Verstappen have all competed on Saudi soil, whereas main sporting occasions draw crowds from across the globe.
In 2034, hundreds of thousands will contact down in Saudi Arabia for the FIFA World Cup, whereas 2025 is already jam-packed with sporting occasions.
In April, the AFC Asian U17 Cup will showcase Asia’s brightest younger soccer stars, whereas motorsports followers can witness Lewis Hamilton kitted out in Ferrari crimson as he takes to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the Saudi Arabian System One Grand Prix.
In August, basketball followers can watch the continent’s main basketball-playing nations chase victory on the FIBA Asia Cup, whereas tennis followers can witness the world’s greatest eight tennis gamers on centre court docket at WTA Tour Finals in November.
“With each giant sporting occasion, be it a System One or the World Cup, you will note a sequence of cultural occasions,” says Hamidaddin.
“Saudi has been internet hosting extra occasions per week than Vegas had occasions per week, from the Formulation, to boxing, to the World Cup, to tennis, and Dakar [Rally – the off-road endurance event].”
Solar, sand and serenity: Expertise complete luxurious at The Crimson Sea
With pristine coastlines, unrivalled marine life and a string of opulent five-star inns, the Crimson Sea is a 28,000-square-kilometre paradise on Saudi Arabia’s western coast.
Already, two luxurious properties have opened on its shores, together with the Six Senses Southern Dunes, and the St. Regis Crimson Sea Resort with overwater villas perching above turquoise waters.
“The Saudi Crimson Sea is the most important vertical riviera on the planet,” explains Hamidaddin. “It is a tremendous vacation spot that stretches from the highest of Neom and Sindalah Island all the way down to the south of the Saudi coast.”
By the tip of 2025, the vacation spot might be residence to 16 resorts, with a complete of fifty deliberate by 2030, in addition to luxurious marinas, golf programs, and residential properties.
Crimson Sea International, the vacation spot’s developer, says that accountable growth is on the coronary heart of the undertaking.75 per cent of the vacation spot’s islands are resulting from be left untouched, whereas the remaining will function on renewable vitality.
Tenting below the celebrities within the Saudi desert
About 30 per cent of the land in Saudi Arabia is roofed by desert, and the Kingdom is known for its towering dunes, from the reddish hues of the Advert Dahna Desert to the sprawling expanse of Rub’Al Khali (The Empty Quarter), the world’s largest steady sand desert.
“The nice Arabian dunes are a worldwide providing in winter that’s probably as large as safari in Africa and snowboarding within the Alps,” says Hamidaddin.
“From sand therapeutic to sand sports activities, excessive journey to stargazing, there’s a lot that may be achieved, together with witnessing rewilding initiatives by means of which we’ve launched 21 species to create a brand new animal kingdom.”
Within the historic metropolis of AlUla, you’ll be able to get pleasure from camel trekking, desert tenting, and stargazing below the huge desert sky.
For extra journey, hike by means of the Crimson Sands close to Riyadh or discover the historic Najd area, the place off-road experiences are unparalleled.
For one of many Kingdom’s most high-octane desert points of interest, head to the Fringe of the World, a 1,131-metre cliff inside the Tuwaik mountain vary, additionally close to Riyadh. Right here, you’ll be able to climb to eye-watering heights for among the most spectacular views within the nation.