- WTM Spotlight Riyadh officially opens at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), marking the launch of a new platform connecting the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world
- Leading regional and international destinations and travel brands come together for three days of business, networking and knowledge exchange
- Conference programme brings together senior Saudi and international voices to examine Vision 2030, outbound market opportunities and the future of connected travel experiences
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 9 September 2026: On behalf of H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) CEO Ageel AlShaibani has officially opened the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh, marking the launch of a new international meeting place for the travel and tourism industry as Saudi Arabia continues its transformation into one of the world’s most dynamic tourism markets under Vision 2030.
Organised by RX and taking place until Thursday 10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), WTM Spotlight Riyadh, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, brings together destinations, tourism authorities, hospitality and experience providers, airlines, travel technology companies, travel buyers, investors and industry leaders, creating a focused environment for business, collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The opening marks an important milestone as Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations. Under Vision 2030, tourism has become a key pillar of the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategy, with the sector targeted to contribute 10% of GDP and Saudi Arabia aiming to welcome 150 million domestic and international visitors annually by the end of the decade.
Ageel AlShaibani, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “With tourism spending growing by 5% year-on-year in H1 2026, Saudi’s tourism fundamentals remain exceptionally strong, underscoring the depth and durability of our market. WTM Spotlight Riyadh brings that opportunity to life for our partners, connecting global travel buyers directly with the destinations, products and experiences shaping the future of tourism in Saudi. We look forward to deepening these relationships and unlocking new opportunities for the travel trade across the Kingdom.”
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX, said: “The opening of the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh is an important moment for us and for the international travel community. Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s most dynamic tourism markets, and we are delighted to bring the industry together here in Riyadh as the Kingdom continues its extraordinary transformation under Vision 2030.
“WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been created to connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world. Over the next three days, our focus is on creating meaningful business connections, encouraging the exchange of ideas and giving international and Saudi travel businesses the opportunity to build relationships and explore new commercial opportunities.
“This first edition is the beginning of that journey. We want WTM Spotlight Riyadh to develop alongside Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, strengthening connections between the Kingdom and international markets and supporting the partnerships and ideas that will help shape the future of tourism.”
The exhibition floor reflects the breadth of the global travel industry, spanning destinations, hotels, attractions, transportation, experiences and travel technology.
High-profile Saudi Arabian organisations exhibiting at WTM Spotlight Riyadh include, amongst others, Amsa Hospitality, Taiba Investments, flyadeal, Hilton KSA Hotels, and The Jeddah Edition. They will be joined by international brands including Accor, MSC Cruises, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways and Webook.com.
Alongside the exhibition, the three-day conference programme brings together Saudi and international tourism leaders to examine the trends, opportunities and challenges shaping the Kingdom’s visitor economy and the wider global travel industry.
Today, the opening day will focus on Driving Growth for Vision 2030. The Policy Panel: Enabling Growth – Regulation, Visas and Private Sector Participation will bring together Anju Gomes, Senior Regional Director Middle East, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA); Dr. Abdullatif Alafaliq, President, National Committee for Tourism Services, Federation of Saudi Chambers; Abdulmohsen Alanazi, Head of Protocol and Guest Management, Saudi Motorsport Company; and Ali Ibrahim, Immigration Lead Director, Saudi Arabia, Vialto Partners Middle East.
On Wednesday, 9 September, the programme turns to Outbound Demand & Market Access, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a major global source market.
The Innovation Startup Showcase: How the Kingdom is Building Tourism’s Most Ambitious Ecosystem will explore the innovation and investment driving Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving tourism sector.
Speakers include Sultan Moraished, Chief of Technology and Corporate Excellence, Red Sea Global; HH Prince Saud Al Saud, Executive Director, TDF Grow, Tourism Development Fund; Mohamed Elbeheiry, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, EyeGo; and Njoud Al Yousef, Lead, Startups and SMEs Engagement, United Nations Global Compact.
On Thursday, 10 September, attention will turn to the experiences, connectivity and technologies shaping the next phase of tourism development. Discussions throughout the day will examine how mobility, artificial intelligence, destination experiences and innovation are changing the way visitors discover, navigate and experience destinations.
Salman A. Alarifi, General Manager of Technology Enablement, Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia, will lead the AI Tourism Vision: Enabling Hyper-Personalisation and Connectivity session, exploring how artificial intelligence can support the next phase of Saudi Arabia’s tourism development.
Through its distinctive B2B2C format, WTM Spotlight Riyadh brings the international travel community directly into the Saudi market, creating opportunities to understand evolving traveller demand, develop partnerships and experience firsthand the transformation taking place across the Kingdom’s tourism sector.
Visitor registration for WTM Spotlight Riyadh is now open, with travel professionals invited to secure their place at the inaugural event and engage directly with one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets. For exhibitor enquiries, please click here.
