Saudi 2026 Budget Boosts Tourism and Transport

Saudi Arabia's newly approved 2026 national budget channels major spending toward transport, hospitality, and cultural infrastructure, part of a broad push to accelerate tourism growth under Saudi Vision 2030. The plan sets total expenditures at about SAR 1,313 billion and revenues at roughly SAR 1,147 billion, with a projected deficit near SAR 165 billion, or about 3.3% of GDP.

The budget continues strategic spending on development projects and economic diversification. Around SAR 92 billion is allocated to economic resource development, covering housing programmes, tourism expansion, agriculture, manufacturing, and national industrial strategies. An estimated SAR 351 billion is directed to tourism and related sectors, spanning tourism infrastructure and services.

About SAR 35 billion, roughly 3% of the total budget, is earmarked for infrastructure including roads, ports, airports, logistics systems, and digital innovation to strengthen transport and tourism connectivity. Transport investment includes airport upgrades and expansion, expanded railway networks linking key tourism and economic hubs, and improved public transit in major cities to support visitor mobility.

Why it matters

Hospitality allocations focus on new hotels, resorts, and mixed-use projects serving leisure, business, and religious visitors, while cultural spending supports museums, heritage sites, cultural districts, entertainment venues, and a growing calendar of festivals and events.

The fiscal plan is tied to ambitious targets. Tourism spending is projected to reach about USD 93.5 billion in 2026, and the visitor goal has been raised to 150 million tourists by 2030, up from 116 million in 2024. Saudi employment in the tourism sector is expected to rise to around 110,000 by 2026. Support also continues for giga-projects and large destinations through transport links, utilities, and municipal services, offering residents and expats more travel options, job opportunities, and leisure choices across the Kingdom.

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