Saudi Arabia, AlUla and the Red Sea are expanding the Kingdom’s outdoor tourism map as travellers explore experiences beyond luxury resorts. Desert camps, mountain trails, wadis, archaeological landscapes and Red Sea reefs are becoming part of itineraries connecting different regions.
The supplied figures show Saudi Arabia welcomed roughly 123 million domestic and international tourists in 2025. Under Vision 2030, tourism development is extending across nature, adventure, culture and regional destinations.
Desert tourism creates new experiences
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Desert travel provides one of Saudi Arabia’s distinctive outdoor experiences. Visitors can explore dunes, sandstone formations and wide landscapes through guided excursions, hiking, photography, stargazing and overnight camping.
AlUla is suited to combining desert experiences with heritage sightseeing. Travellers can move between archaeological attractions, rock formations and desert valleys while choosing from hotels, camps and other accommodation.
AlUla links nature with ancient heritage
AlUla has developed into a major destination for outdoor and cultural tourism. Its landscape includes sandstone formations, desert valleys and archaeological sites.
Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, adds a significant heritage attraction. Visitors can explore monumental tombs and archaeological areas while experiencing the surrounding desert.
Mountains broaden the tourism experience
Saudi Arabia’s mountain regions provide a contrasting experience to the desert. The Asir region in the southwest features elevated landscapes, valleys, escarpments and mountain communities.
Abha provides a base for exploring Asir, with access to viewpoints, villages, cultural attractions and outdoor excursions. Hiking and nature activities can be incorporated where designated trails and organised services are available.
Tabuk in the northwest offers another route into mountain and desert landscapes and can support itineraries connecting northern Saudi Arabia with coastal destinations.
Wadis add adventure and nature travel
Wadis, or valleys that may carry water after rainfall, form another part of Saudi Arabia’s outdoor tourism offer. Visitors can explore suitable wadis through hiking, photography and guided sightseeing.
Conditions can change after rainfall, making weather checks and local information important before excursions. Organised tours can help visitors understand routes and safety requirements.
Red Sea tourism brings marine adventures
The Red Sea adds a major marine dimension to Saudi Arabia’s tourism offer. Coral reefs, islands and coastal ecosystems provide opportunities for diving, snorkelling, boating and marine sightseeing.
The developing Red Sea tourism region combines accommodation with nature-based activities, allowing travellers to include coastal experiences alongside desert and heritage stops.
The Farasan Islands provide another marine destination, with beaches, islands and coastal environments. Travellers need to plan boat connections, accommodation and excursions according to available services.
Diving expands coastal travel
Scuba diving and snorkelling create additional reasons to visit Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Reefs and marine environments support guided underwater experiences.
Operators may provide equipment, instruction and boat transportation depending on location. Travellers should use qualified operators and follow local safety requirements.
Roads and airports support regional tourism
As visitors move towards remote attractions, transportation becomes increasingly important. Regional airports, roads and local transport services connect tourism hubs with outdoor destinations.
AlUla, Tabuk, Asir and Red Sea areas require different combinations of flights and road journeys. Travellers planning multi-region itineraries need to consider distances, transfer times, weather and local transport availability.
Local communities can join the tourism economy
Regional tourism can distribute visitor spending across communities outside Saudi Arabia’s largest cities. Local accommodation, restaurants, transport businesses, guides, artisans and activity providers can participate.
Cultural experiences can connect visitors with regional food, crafts and traditions.
Conservation becomes part of outdoor travel
More visitors in deserts, mountains, wadis and marine environments increase the importance of responsible tourism. Travellers can help protect destinations by following designated routes, respecting wildlife and archaeological sites, and disposing of waste correctly.
Marine visitors should avoid touching coral or disturbing wildlife, while hikers and desert travellers should follow restrictions in protected areas.
Vision 2030 expands Saudi Arabia’s tourism offer
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 tourism programme is supporting a broader visitor economy in which outdoor experiences sit alongside accommodation, city tourism and cultural attractions.
A single holiday can combine Riyadh or Jeddah with AlUla, a desert camp, mountain travel in Asir or a Red Sea diving experience.
Saudi Arabia enters a new outdoor tourism chapter
Saudi Arabia’s outdoor tourism offer connects AlUla’s sandstone landscapes and Hegra’s heritage with Asir’s mountains, wadis and the Red Sea’s marine attractions.
The reported 123 million domestic and international tourists in 2025 provide a substantial visitor base for continued development. This broadens journeys across the Kingdom for domestic and international visitors throughout the year, further.
For travellers, the developing network creates opportunities to combine adventure, nature and heritage in one journey, extending the Saudi travel experience beyond luxury resorts.
