Saudi Arabia to Establish Marketing Tourism Offices

The Saudi Tourism Authority has set 24 plans that place Saudi Arabia as a top tourist destination on the local, regional, and global levels.
Last week, the Council of Ministers, headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, approved the regulations of the Saudi Tourism Authority to play a crucial role in promoting Saudi Arabia as a top tourist destination on both regional and international levels.
- Establishing a database
According to the regulation, a copy of which was seen by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Authority achieved its goals in developing the necessary plans and policies for tourism marketing in the Kingdom, locally and internationally.
It must also promote destinations, propose developments in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism, and support and market events held by government agencies and the private sector.
The Authority will create a database of all available sites, tourist destinations, resorts, services, and events and update it periodically with the relevant authorities.
It will also be tasked with all Umrah-related promotions, including the development and management of its platform, in coordination with the relevant agencies.

Furthermore, the Authority will develop the necessary standards, tools, and mechanisms to measure visitor's experience and determine the priorities and challenges facing tourists. Reports will be shared with the Ministry.
The Authority will propose the necessary designs, policies, and procedures to prepare the development of tourist sites and destinations that need rehabilitation and submit them to the Ministry of Tourism.
- Marketing studies and research
Moreover, the Authority will work with the private sector to develop products and display them on platforms for local and global marketing.
It will prepare marketing studies and research on opportunities to develop the visitor experience in the Kingdom and cooperate with regional and international bodies and organizations.
The Authority must carry out marketing campaigns inside and outside the Kingdom to introduce tourism sites and products and register trademarks and any other intellectual property in its name, in accordance with the relevant regulations.
According to the new regulation, the Authority will develop media plans that support tourism marketing to be disseminated inside and outside the Kingdom.
It will also organize tourism forums, conferences, events, and exhibitions and participate.
- Small and medium enterprises
The Authority is scheduled to provide administrative, technical, and advisory assistance to tourism products' owners in the Kingdom and support small and medium enterprises in cooperation with the competent authorities.
It will also develop and implement training programs aimed at raising the efficiency of tourism marketing and contribute to the qualification and training of human cadres in this field.
Under the new regulations, the Authority will supervise media campaigns and advertisements promoting destinations and suggest investment opportunities that are required to improve the sector in the Kingdom.
It coordinates with the Ministry of Tourism, government agencies, and the private sector to develop a marketing policy for destinations and distribute tourism products outside the Kingdom to enhance the country's position as a global tourist destination.
- Tourist tracks

The Authority will determine the tourist tracks under the tourism sector strategy, in coordination with the Ministry, to ensure an experience consistent with the highest global standards.
The Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Tourism Authority, Ahmed al-Khateeb, said the approval of the Authority's regulations confirms the government's continued support to achieve the goals consistent with Vision 2030.
Khateeb emphasized that the significant growth witnessed by the Saudi Tourism Authority is a direct result of the Saudi leadership's commitment to organizing and supporting the tourism sector in general and the Authority in particular.
The Minister stressed that the leadership's support has also helped attract visitors worldwide, develop tourism products, empower the private tourism sector, and participate in the most important local and international tourism forums and events.
He asserted that this alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 is a significant milestone for the tourism sector in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s listed energy companies recorded a combined net profit of SAR 97.76 billion ($26.06 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 4% decline from the SAR 101.78 billion ($27.14 billion) reported during the same period last year. The dip was primarily driven by a 4.63% drop in profits from industry giant Saudi Aramco.

Despite the overall decrease, the sector’s performance was supported by increased sales volumes across gas, refined and petrochemical products, and integrated logistics services. Higher profit margins were also achieved due to relatively stable operations, improved global shipping rates, and lower financing costs.

The sector includes seven publicly listed companies: Saudi Aramco, Bahri, ADES, Aldrees, Arabian Drilling, Al-Masafi, and Petro Rabigh.

According to financial disclosures on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), all companies in the sector posted profits in Q1 2025, with the exception of Petro Rabigh, which significantly reduced its losses by 49.4%.

Saudi Aramco led the sector with SAR 97.54 billion in profits, despite a slight year-on-year drop from SAR 102.27 billion. Bahri followed, reporting a 17.64% increase in profits to SAR 532.82 million, up from SAR 453 million in Q1 2024.

ADES secured third place with SAR 196.7 million in net profits, reflecting a modest 2.07% decrease from the SAR 200.85 million reported in the same quarter last year.

Aldrees posted the highest growth rate in the sector, with profits soaring by 29.3% to SAR 100.1 million, compared to SAR 77.4 million in Q1 2024.

Commenting on the quarterly results, Dr. Suleiman Al-Humaid Al-Khalidi, a financial analyst and member of the Saudi Economic Association, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the energy sector remains highly profitable, with over SAR 97 billion in earnings underscoring its strength and vital role in the Saudi economy.

He attributed Aramco’s decline to lower global oil prices, reduced production in line with OPEC+ recommendations, and increased operating and capital expenditures.

Mohamed Hamdy Omar, CEO of G.World, echoed this view, describing Aramco as the sector’s “primary engine.”

He noted that falling global oil prices, due to weakened Chinese demand, rising trade tensions, and adjustments in OPEC+ production, negatively impacted revenues across the sector.

He also pointed to rising operating costs as a pressure on profit margins, despite ongoing efforts to boost operational efficiency.

Saudi Arabia to Establish Marketing Tourism Offices