Hotel occupancy in Medina reaches nearly 100% during the winter break
Madinah is witnessing an exceptional tourism and economic boom, as specialists in the tourism and hotel sector confirmed that booking and occupancy rates in the region’s hotels are heading towards recording the full mark of 100%, driven by the coincidence of the mid-year school break with the moderate winter weather that characterizes the region at this time of year.
Price recovery and increased demand
Industry experts explained to Okaz that this high demand was directly reflected in tourist accommodation prices; after room prices ranged between 150 and 220 riyals on ordinary days, they jumped to exceed the 300 riyal mark during the holiday period, in response to the rule of supply and demand.
Medina is a unique destination that blends spirituality and history, boasting over 1,300 archaeological sites and 48 historical mosques, making it an open-air museum that tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad. These elements are complemented by modern and rapidly developing urban projects aimed at enhancing the visitor experience and solidifying the city's position as a global cultural and spiritual destination.
Record numbers reflect the city's status
In a related context, official data revealed a surge in visitor numbers, reflecting the strategic importance of Medina on the Saudi tourism map. According to the General Authority for Statistics, the total number of visitors in the second quarter of 2025 reached approximately 3.767 million.
Specifically, the number of visitors from outside the Kingdom reached more than 2.1 million, with females constituting the largest percentage at 53.9%. Domestically, the number of visitors for religious purposes reached approximately 1.66 million, of whom 54% were non-Saudis, highlighting the city's global appeal even among residents.
Economic impact and vision objectives
Growth wasn't limited to visitor numbers; it also extended to tourism spending, aligning with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of diversifying income sources. Ministry of Tourism data for the first half of 2025 indicated that 6.7 million international visitors were received, representing an 8% increase, with spending exceeding SAR 24.3 billion, a 21% growth rate.
Domestic tourism also saw a strong performance with 3.7 million visitors and spending exceeding 4.6 billion riyals. Chamber of Commerce reports confirm that approximately 73.7% of visitors to the region consider Madinah their primary destination, thus enhancing investment opportunities in the hospitality, transportation, and logistics sectors to meet this growing demand.
