Inside Saudi Arabia’s Push to Become a Global Vacation Destination

Posted on 01/17/2026
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Saudi Arabia is attempting one of the most ambitious economic transformations in the world, hoping to use tourism to reduce its reliance on oil and reshape its global image. Under Vision 2030, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has backed massive investments in luxury resorts, cultural destinations, airlines, and infrastructure. Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano, and Royal Commission for AlUla CEO Abeer AlAkel explain how projects like the Red Sea resorts and AlUla aim to attract tens of millions of visitors. Steven Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations discusses how foreign capital, global competition, and social change impact the Kingdom’s push to become a major leisure destination.

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