Saudi Arabia has launched its 2026 summer tourism season under the theme “Our Summer, Your Way” — a campaign that reflects how dramatically the Kingdom’s hospitality and travel landscape has transformed under Vision 2030. From the ancient rock-carved tombs of AlUla to the coral reefs of the Red Sea and the cool mountain retreats of Asir, Saudi Arabia in 2026 offers a summer travel proposition that is increasingly competing with — and in some cases surpassing — established regional destinations.
AlUla: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Jewel
No destination in Saudi Arabia — and arguably few in the entire Arab world — has generated as much international travel media coverage over the past five years as AlUla. The ancient oasis in the north-western Medina region is home to Hegra (Mada’in Salih), Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, where 111 monumental Nabataean tombs carved directly into golden sandstone outcrops have stood for more than 2,000 years.
In 2026, AlUla’s experience offering has expanded significantly. The fourth edition of Desert X AlUla — the open-air contemporary art exhibition that places monumental installations among the desert landscape — concluded its run through February, while the AlUla Arts Festival has expanded its year-round programme of installations, exhibitions and wellness retreats to cement the oasis as a repeating stop on the global cultural circuit.
Luxury accommodation options have multiplied, with properties including Banyan Tree AlUla, Our Habitas AlUla and Ashar Tented Resort offering guests curated desert experiences — sunrise hot air balloon rides, night-sky stargazing, guided heritage walks and private dining among ancient tombs — that cannot be replicated anywhere else on earth.
The Red Sea: Saudi Arabia’s New Coastal Frontier
The Red Sea Project — the giga-project spanning 28,000 square kilometres of pristine Red Sea coastline — is delivering its first resort islands and luxury properties in 2026. The destination targets environmentally conscious, high-spending international travellers with strict sustainability credentials: no single-use plastics, renewable energy-powered infrastructure, and a commitment to preserving the coral reef ecosystems that make the Red Sea one of the world’s premier diving destinations.
For GCC travellers, the Red Sea Project offers a beach resort experience that previously required a flight to the Maldives or Seychelles. Saudi nationals, Emirati visitors and regional expatriates are already among the earliest guests at the initial hotel openings, drawn by the combination of accessibility and genuinely world-class natural environment.
Asir: The Cool Mountain Escape
For summer visitors seeking an escape from Gulf heat, the Asir region in south-western Saudi Arabia offers something genuinely unusual for the Arabian Peninsula: cool mountain air, green terraced hillsides, and cultural architecture preserved in the colourful geometric style that is unique to the region. Abha, the regional capital, sits at 2,200 metres above sea level and sees average summer temperatures of 15–20°C — a natural air conditioner that is drawing increasing numbers of Saudi domestic travellers and curious international visitors.
Visa and Access: Easier Than Ever
Saudi Arabia’s e-visa programme, available to citizens of 49 countries, continues to make international access straightforward. The tourist visa covers a one-year multiple-entry period with up to 90 days per visit and can be obtained in minutes through the Nusuk platform or on arrival at major airports. For GCC nationals, entry requires only a national ID and no advance application.
Saudi Arabia welcomed a record 30 million international tourists in 2024 and is tracking toward its Vision 2030 target of 150 million annual visitors by the decade’s end — a target that, given the pace of infrastructure delivery and growing international awareness of the destination, no longer looks as aspirational as it once did.
Also Read: Saudi Vision 2030 Halfway Milestone: Key Non-Oil GDP Achievements | Saudi Arabia Economy 2026
