Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and the Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) have partnered to accelerate tourism development across the Makkah region, with plans to rehabilitate tourism sites, improve destination planning and strengthen collaboration across the sector.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will support joint projects, including studies to activate attractions, the exchange of geospatial data and the integration of databases to improve urban planning and decision-making.
Under the agreement, workforce training, community and volunteer initiatives, support for the non-profit tourism sector and greater media cooperation to promote Makkah’s tourism offerings will also be provided.
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The partnership comes as visitation across the Makkah region continues to grow. According to MoT data, Makkah recorded the kingdom’s second-highest hotel occupancy rate in Q1 2026 at 59.8%, behind neighbouring Madinah at 82%.
The kingdom as a whole welcomed a record 123 million visitors in 2025, generating SAR304 billion (US$81.1 billion) in tourism spending, according to MoT figures. Saudi has recently also introduced a year-long multi-visit Umrah visa, allowing eligible pilgrims to stay for up to 90 days per visit as it expands access for religious travellers.
Hospitality investment continues to accelerate across the Makkah region. Accor recently signed an agreement for the 518-key ibis Makkah Al Maabdah, due to open in 2031, while the 1,141-room Sofitel Jabal Omar Makkah is scheduled to open in late 2026 as the brand’s largest property worldwide. Marriott International also announced plans earlier this year to add five hotels across Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah under a partnership with Al Qimmah Hospitality, expanding the kingdom’s midscale accommodation offering.
For more information, visit www.mda.gov.sa