Saudi Arabia to Add 362,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030 in $110 Billion Tourism Expansion । Flightnews24

Key topics include:

Investment Opportunities – identifying new areas for growth within the hospitality sector.

Government Incentives – exploring regulatory and financial support for investors.

Innovation in Hospitality – focusing on digital transformation and guest experience enhancements.

A Growing Economic Force

Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector contributed SAR 444.3 billion to the national GDP in 2023 — roughly 11.5% of the economy. Between January and October 2024, hotel revenue reached $5.6 billion, a 3.5% year-on-year increase and 26.5% higher than 2019, reflecting robust post-pandemic growth.

New openings include:

Jumeirah Jabal Omar Hotel – Dubai’s Jumeirah Group’s debut in Saudi Arabia

Address Jabal Omar – home to the Sky Musallah, the world’s highest prayer room at 483 meters, overlooking the Holy Kaaba

The Voco Makkah, the world’s largest property under IHG’s Voco brand, adds 4,321 rooms, further strengthening the city’s hospitality portfolio.

The Red Sea

The Red Sea Project, covering 28,000 sq km, is introducing world-class resorts and has already opened five luxury hotels — Six Senses Southern Dunes, St. Regis Red Sea Resort, Ritz-Carlton Reserve Nujuma, Desert Rock, and Shebara Resort.

Upcoming openings include Four Seasons AMAALA, Fairmont Red Sea, Rosewood Amaala, Miraval The Red Sea, and Clinique La Prairie Health Resort.

Upcoming Developments

Red Palace Boutique Hotel – Boutique Group’s heritage project, opening in 2026.

TRIBE & TRIBE Living – Accor’s first in the Middle East, within King Salman Park.

Radisson Collection Residence Hotel – 5-star luxury on King Fahad Road.

W Riyadh – opening in 2025 at KAFD.

Regent Riyadh KAFD & InterContinental KAFD – by IHG Hotels & Resorts, debuting 2027.

Rotana Hotels – expanding to 16 properties and 4,400 rooms across the Kingdom.

A Transformative Decade Ahead

With 362,000 new rooms, $110 billion in investment, and unprecedented global attention, Saudi Arabia is redefining luxury travel and religious tourism.

By combining innovation, sustainability, and cultural authenticity, the Kingdom is on track to become one of the world’s top hospitality destinations by 2030 — a new era for global tourism led from the heart of the Middle East.

Travelling alone offers more than the chance to explore new places. It allows individuals to make independent choices, spend time with themselves and gain personal insight through new experiences. However, alongside that freedom comes the need to prioritise personal safety. Understanding a country’s security environment before planning a trip is therefore essential.

While solo travel can be peaceful and empowering, poor preparation can expose travellers to unnecessary risks. Reviewing global safety rankings can help travellers make informed decisions.

How the rankings were determined

The study was conducted by Squaremouth, one of the largest online travel insurance marketplaces in the United States. Researchers initially compiled a list of 113 countries based on the United Nations Human Development Index, which evaluates overall national progress using indicators such as education, income and quality of life.

To assess safety, the study examined several factors, including crime rates, how safe people feel walking alone at night, the quality of healthcare, rankings in the Global Peace Index and other social and security-related indicators. Each factor was scored on a scale from zero to ten, with the overall average determining a country’s position. Lower scores indicate higher safety, while higher scores point to greater risk.

Researchers note that such rankings provide a general overview only. Conditions can change rapidly due to natural disasters, political instability or conflict. Additionally, a country considered safe overall may not offer the same level of security for women or minority groups.

Safest country for solo travel

San Marino, a small landlocked republic in southern Europe and widely regarded as the world’s oldest republic, ranks as the safest destination for solo travellers. Surrounded by Italy, the mountainous country records an exceptionally low score of 0.78 out of 10.

Its strong safety profile is attributed to high-quality healthcare, minimal environmental risks and a high level of personal security. Nearly 90% of residents report feeling safe walking alone at night.

Other highly safe destinations

In addition to San Marino, nine other countries are considered particularly safe for solo travel. These include:

Andorra
Singapore
Austria
Czech Republic
Qatar
Estonia
Brunei
Denmark
Slovenia

Travellers are advised to exercise caution when visiting Qatar due to ongoing tensions in parts of the Middle East.

Most dangerous countries identified

Countries are labelled “dangerous” when everyday life presents higher security risks, often linked to weak infrastructure, limited healthcare and broader safety challenges.

According to the study, Venezuela ranks as the most hazardous destination for solo travellers. It is followed by:

Peru
Gabon
Colombia
Bolivia
Jamaica
Guyana
Ecuador
Trinidad and Tobago
South Africa

Practical safety tips for solo travellers

Even in safer destinations, taking precautions can significantly reduce risks:

Share your travel itinerary with family or friends, including accommodation details.
Stay connected by ensuring your phone has data access.
Move with confidence, as uncertainty can attract opportunistic criminals.
Keep valuables such as passports, jewellery and excess cash secured, ideally in hotel lockers. Carry only essentials when going outside.
Avoid isolated or unfamiliar areas and be cautious when interacting with strangers.

Final word

Solo travel can be deeply rewarding when approached with awareness and preparation. Staying informed and alert can make the difference between a stressful trip and a safe, memorable journey.