Saudi Arabia’s MICE market is projected to surpass US$5 billion by 2031 as Vision 2030 investments position the Kingdom among the world’s leading business events destinations
·
WTM Spotlight Riyadh will also highlight opportunities
across Saudi Arabia’s outbound MICE sectors, offering global destinations
direct access to a rapidly maturing outbound market as planners increasingly
prioritise strategic, ROI-driven international programmes
- WTM Spotlight Riyadh will
make its debutfrom 8 - 10 Septemberat the Riyadh Front Exhibition &Conference
Center (RFECC)
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2026:As Saudi
Arabia advances its Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda, the Kingdom’s
Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is emerging
as one of the fastest-growing segments within its tourism ecosystem. Against this
backdrop, WTM Spotlight
Riyadh will serve as a global platform to showcase the
country’s expanding capacity to host world-class business events, bringing and
connecting international planners with opportunities across the Kingdom.
According to Mordor
Intelligence, Saudi Arabia’s MICE market is forecast to grow at a
CAGR of 9.82% through to 2031, reaching US$5.65billion, reflecting the
Kingdom’s substantial investment in venues, aviation, hospitality, and
supporting infrastructure.
Government spending on business event venues reached
US$1.3 billion in 2023 across Riyadh and Jeddah alone, while millions of square
metres of new exhibition space, thousands of hotel rooms and expanded airport
capacity are being delivered to meet growing delegate demand. Underscoring the scale
of growthin the MICE market across the wider MENA region, the Saudi Tourism
Society has outlined an industry forecast projecting US$100 billion in 2035,
with Saudi Arabia ranked among the region’s top three destinations for business
events.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX,
commented:“Saudi Arabia’s MICE sector is entering a period of extraordinary
growth. With market value projected to exceed US$5.5 billion by 2031, business
events are pivotal in accelerating tourism development, driving demand for
premium hotels, and strengthening international partnerships.
“WTM Spotlight Riyadh provides a focused platform to
showcase the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding event infrastructure and connect
global planners with on-the-ground stakeholders.”
Globally, the MICE market is expected to reach over
US$3 trillion by 2034, according to Fortune
Business Insights, with Saudi Arabia becoming an increasingly
influential outbound MICE market. As Saudi companies expand globally and
diversify their operations in line with Vision 2030 priorities, the demand for
international meetings, corporate travel programmes, and large-scale incentive
experiences is growing rapidly.
This shift is changing how Saudi organisations handle
international events and incentive travel. Corporate planners are shifting from
traditional reward-based incentive models toward more strategic, performance-focused
programmes aimed at boosting employee engagement, building global partnerships,
and achieving measurable business results. As a result, destinations are
increasingly judged not just by their prestige or size but also by their
operational efficiency, accessibility, cultural richness, and capacity to
foster meaningful corporate engagement.
For international destinations, convention bureaux,
hotels and event venues, this development offers a significant opportunity.
Saudi companies are looking for destinations that offer sophisticated event
infrastructure, upscale hospitality, streamlined logistics, and curated
cultural experiences that meet the expectations of a new generation of globally
minded Saudi executives and professionals.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh will act as a dedicated platform
for international exhibitors to connect directly with this rapidly growing
market. By bringing together Saudi corporate travel organisers, procurement
specialists, event organisers, and incentive agencies, the event will enable
global destinations and suppliers to showcase their venues, services, and event
solutions directly to decision-makers shaping the Kingdom’s outbound MICE
programmes.
“Saudi Arabia’s outbound MICE sector is rapidly
evolving, with corporate planners moving beyond traditional incentive travel
towards more strategic, ROI-driven international programmes that support
business growth and employee engagement,” said Curtis.
“WTM Spotlight Riyadh will offer direct access to
Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding MICE procurement pipeline, allowing global
destinations, venues, and hospitality brands to connect with corporate buyers
and decision-makers who are driving the Kingdom’s growing outbound meetings and
incentive travel market,” she concluded.
As part of the dedicated conference programme, the
discussion will explore what event organisers and incentive buyers need from
Saudi Arabia, where the Kingdom’s business events ecosystem can continue to
mature, and how business events can generate long-term tourism and destination
value under Vision 2030.
By bringing together inbound and outbound MICE opportunities,
WTM Spotlight Riyadh, which
will take place from 8 – 10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition &ConferenceCenter
(RFECC), will underscorehow Saudi Arabia is influencing the regional
and global business events ecosystem.
To
register your interest in attending WTM Spotlight Riyadh, please click here. For exhibitor enquiries, please
click here.
ENDS
About WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia
WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia is
the definitive launchpad for Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions – a platform
purpose-built to connect the Kingdom’s growing tourism sector with the global
travel industry. The show promotes meaningful exchange between regional
stakeholders and international players. It’s where global travel brands gain
direct access to one of the most promising new markets, and where Saudi Arabia
showcases its destinations, vision, and investment opportunities to the world.
WTM Spotlight Riyadh plays a vital role in shaping the Kingdom’s journey as a
rising force in global tourism.
About RX
RX is a global leader in events
and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build
businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in
25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events
annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our
people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and
digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based
analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more
information, visit www.rxglobal.com.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of
information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business
customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in
about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in
North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the
London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker
symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market
capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online
portals across four continents.
The events are:
WTM Spotlight
Indiais a refined,
high-impact platform that brings the legacy of the globally renowned WTM
portfolio to India – anchored by WTM London and spanning leading travel trade
events including Arabian Travel Market, WTM Latin America, WTM Africa, and WTM
Spotlight Riyadh.
Building on this heritage of
excellence, innovation, and high-value connections, WTM Spotlight India will
debut at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, from 2–4 March, 2027. Designed as a curated,
business-first experience, it offers a premium platform for India's travel and
tourism stakeholders to engage with global opportunities, foster strategic
partnerships, and unlock growth in one of the world's most dynamic travel
markets.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM),
now in its 33rd year, is held annually in Dubai – the gateway to global travel
and tourism with unmatched connectivity – and is where the energy of
opportunity comes to life.
More than just an event, ATM is a dynamic hub
for industry communities, with forums, experiences, and networking that
continue well beyond the show floor over the week. Now in a period of rapid
expansion, ATM has grown by 16% year-on-year, attracting over 55,000 travel
professionals from 166 countries.
Next event:4–7 May 2026at Dubai World Trade
Centre in Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
WTM London is
the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel
community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view
of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM
London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel
companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business
outcomes.
Next event: 3- 5 November 2026 at
ExCel London.
WTM Latin America
takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000
tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified
content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth
edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual
one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective
business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings
that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.
Next event: 14 - 16 April 2026 – Expo Center
Norte, SP, Brazil.
WTM Africa launched
in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than
7,000 unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared
to 2019, and welcomed more than 6,000 visitors (unaudited), the same number as
in 2019.
Next event: 13 - 15 April 2026 – Cape Town
International Convention Centre, Cape Town
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel
Week’s digital arm is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting
content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts
on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim of
keeping all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect
focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury
travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub is
the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry
professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and
knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the
challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into
its global network of experts to create content for the hub.https://hub.wtm.com/
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