WTM Spotlight Riyadh 2026 set to connect global travel leaders with Saudi market
New platform targets business opportunities across the Kingdom’s expanding sector
DUBAI – WTM Spotlight Riyadh 2026 has announced the Ministry of Tourism as Strategic Partner for its inaugural edition, strengthening efforts to expand international tourism collaboration and support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions.
The partnership comes as the Kingdom continues to develop its tourism industry and attract greater international interest.
The event will connect global travel businesses with Saudi tourism stakeholders and provide opportunities across the rapidly evolving market.
Strategic partnership
The partnership marks a significant step for WTM Spotlight Riyadh, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the global travel industry. It also positions the event as a meeting point for international tourism leaders seeking to engage with one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh will take place from 8 to 10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC). The event has been designed to connect international tourism businesses with Saudi Arabia while providing a platform for the Kingdom to strengthen its presence within the global travel sector.
The event will bring together destinations, tourism authorities, hospitality providers, airlines, travel technology companies, investors, consumers and industry leaders. Participants will explore new business opportunities across Saudi Arabia’s expanding tourism sector, with a shared focus on supporting the next phase of the Kingdom’s tourism growth.
Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its position as a rapidly growing tourism destination. Under Vision 2030, tourism is a key pillar of the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategy, with the sector targeted to contribute 10 percent of GDP and attract 150 million domestic and international visitors annually by the end of the decade.
Recent figures released by the Ministry of Tourism have highlighted continued growth in visitor numbers and tourism spending, adding momentum to the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions.
Global access
The partnership with WTM Spotlight Riyadh reflects Saudi Arabia’s focus on closer engagement with the international travel community. It will support efforts to develop sustainable tourism, attract investment and strengthen international partnerships as the Kingdom works to establish itself among the world’s leading tourism destinations.
The inaugural event is expected to attract visitors and exhibitors from around the world, including global travel and tourism leaders and international hosted buyers. It will provide a platform to support Saudi Arabia’s inbound tourism ambitions while giving international travel businesses access to the Kingdom’s high-value outbound market.
Designed as a B2B2C platform covering the wider travel and tourism ecosystem, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will create opportunities for business connections, investment and collaboration. The event is also intended to establish a foundation for its long-term growth in Saudi Arabia while supporting the Kingdom’s wider tourism objectives under Vision 2030.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director, UAE, RX, said the strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism was a defining moment for the inaugural event and reflected Saudi Arabia’s ambition to play a greater role in shaping global tourism.
She said WTM Spotlight Riyadh would bring together decision-makers from across the international travel industry while supporting the Kingdom’s long-term tourism ambitions.
Curtis added that the event was designed to create business connections, encourage the exchange of ideas and provide international travel professionals with direct access to the Saudi tourism market.
Aligned with Vision 2030, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will focus on encouraging investment, strengthening international partnerships and creating new opportunities for collaboration across the travel industry.