World Bank: Region among top tourism performers

In 2025, Bahrain experienced remarkable growth in the tourism sector, welcoming 20 million visitors. The Middle East and North Africa region overall surpassed pre-COVID-19 levels in the number of tourist trips and visitors, despite global challenges. Tourism contributed to supporting 12 million jobs, with each direct job in the tourism sector generating more than two additional jobs in related industries. The sector also achieved expenditures totaling $9.2 billion in the region. Additionally, domestic trips in Saudi Arabia exceeded 93 million, surpassing the goals set by Vision 2030. The importance of coordinated efforts between the public and private sectors to develop tourism destinations, promote small investments, and empower local communities is increasingly evident.