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Tourism Sector Contributes to 4.45% of Saudi Arabia's GDP

One of the tourism projects planned in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
One of the tourism projects planned in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Tourism Sector Contributes to 4.45% of Saudi Arabia's GDP

One of the tourism projects planned in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
One of the tourism projects planned in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed al-Khateeb announced that the tourism sector's contribution to Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 4.45 percent, noting that the Kingdom will invest over $800 billion in the upcoming ten years.

Speaking at the 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh on Sunday, Khateeb added that this percentage is set to continue increasing until it reaches the global level of ten percent.

He confirmed that his ministry had devised development plans for the travel and tourism sector, representing three percent of the labor market.

He stated that tourists from over 49 countries can now obtain e-visas electronically since the launch of tourism initiatives.

Any traveler with a Schengen or European visa can enter the Kingdom through various communication channels and easy online applications.

The Saudi tourism sector is one of the principal axes of Vision 2030, said the Minister, indicating that the Middle East is recovering the fastest from the pandemic among the five central regions, contributing to the growth of global travel and tourism.

Moreover, Khateeb said the tourism sector has provided job opportunities, promoted sustainable and social development, and strengthened international and local cooperation.

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Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
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Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)

The Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Monday under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. The forum aims to bolster strategic industrial cooperation and integration between the two countries.

Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the forum witnessed the participation of Deputy Minister for Industrial Affairs Eng. Khalil bin Salamah, Saudi Export Development Authority CEO Abdulrahman Althukair, and 300 prominent Saudi and Egyptian industry leaders and investors.

Bin Salamah underscored the significance of strengthening economic cooperation and industrial integration between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He advocated for enhanced industrial partnerships within five priority sectors identified in the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy: pharmaceuticals, automotive, building materials, textiles, and food industries.

He highlighted the evolving strategic integration between the two countries across initiatives like "Saudi Made,Future Factories," and "Made in Egypt," as well as in the broader goods and services sector. Bin Salamah urged Egyptian industrialists to capitalize on the industrial investment opportunities available in the Kingdom, citing its ambitious plans to establish 24,000 new factories over the next decade.

Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce Chairman Hassan Alhwaizy hailed the forum as a crucial milestone in Saudi-Egyptian industrial collaboration, emphasizing the strategic partnership underpinning their economic relations, particularly in the industrial sector.

Federation of Egyptian Industries Chairman Mohamed El-Sewedy stated that current global challenges are accelerating the need for industrial integration between the two countries, strengthening their partnership to tap into the African market's potential.

Saudi-Egyptian Business Council Chairman Bandar Al-Ameri highlighted the substantial growth in trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in recent years, fueled by developing economic partnerships between their respective business communities. He emphasized that signing the agreement to protect and encourage mutual investments represents a strategic achievement serving their shared interests.