RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has approved 19 projects across five tourism destinations under its Hospitality Investment Enablers Program, which is expected to attract SR6.7 billion ($1.78 billion) in investment and create more than 17,000 jobs. The initiatives will be rolled out across five destinations, including Al-Baha, Al-Ahsa, Jeddah, Asir and the Eastern Province, with 19 companies, including BSF Capital, Sedal, Rikaz and Jenan among the participating firms. The undertaking, led by the Ministry of

RIYADH: Passenger numbers on Saudi railways surged 266.5 percent to 156.4 million in 2025, as the impact of Riyadh Metro was felt in its first year of operation. According to the General Authority for Statistics, intracity traveler numbers jumped to 145.4 million from 31.1 million in 2024, an increase of 368 percent. The increase came after the $22.5 billion Riyadh Metro, designed for an eventual daily capacity of up to 3.6 million passengers, opened to the public in phases from Dec. 1, 2024.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has introduced its first regulations governing recreational boat rentals, as the Saudi Red Sea Authority seeks to strengthen safety, improve service quality and protect the marine environment as coastal tourism expands. The move aims to support the development of the coastal tourism sector and contribute to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The requirements and regulations aim to establish clear rules governing recreational boat rental activities for visitors an