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RIYADH: ����ֱ��’s vast deserts are shedding their image as empty stretches of sand, emerging instead as the stage for a luxury tourism revolution. 

From solar-powered tents in AlUla to AI-enhanced stargazing in the Empty Quarter, high-end glamping is turning remote landscapes into billion-dollar assets, combining sustainability with indulgence under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

As part of the National Tourism Strategy, ����ֱ�� aims to attract 150 million visitors by 2030 and increase tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product to 10 percent, supporting economic diversification.

Glamping — a blend of “glamorous” and “camping” — offers the outdoor experience with amenities and, in some cases, resort-style services far removed from traditional camping. In the Kingdom, it is redefining premium tourism by attracting affluent travelers to eco-conscious, culturally rooted stays in stunning desert settings. 

Cultural depth and comfort 

According to Camilla Bevilacqua, partner at Arthur D. Little, the combination of comfort, heritage, and sustainability supports ����ֱ��’s efforts to attract high-value visitors and promote lesser-known destinations through meaningful, low-impact experiences.

“In AlUla high-end glamping combines natural beauty with deep cultural heritage — from Hegra’s Nabataean tombs to the ancient oasis networks and rock art sites — making it ideal for immersive travel experiences. The introduction of luxury tented accommodations has reframed how visitors engage with the destination. Guests now wake up to the sound of the wind through sandstone cliffs and end their day with private stargazing sessions guided by local astronomers,” Bevilacqua said.

“This kind of experiential layering resonates strongly with affluent travelers seeking connection, authenticity, and privacy in extraordinary settings,” she added.

She noted that in the Empty Quarter, glamping is taking shape with low-impact, mobile designs to protect the desert environment. These offerings combine comfort with cultural storytelling, including curated access to fossil sites, Bedouin heritage, and ancient trade routes.

“By offering immersive, experience-led alternatives to conventional tourism models, it aligns with broader global shifts in traveler preferences. In the Saudi context, it also serves to distinguish the Kingdom from regional competitors — emphasizing the unique interplay of landscape, heritage, and sustainability as key value drivers for international high-end tourism segments,” Bevilacqua said.

Shifting from assets to experiences

Philippe Najjar, PwC Middle East partner for Destinations, said the rise of luxury glamping signals a shift in tourism strategy from building physical assets to creating emotionally resonant, experience-led destinations.

“This transition shows clearly how ����ֱ�� is on a journey toward diversifying its destination offerings: by anchoring tourism development around immersive ‘play’ experiences, destinations can lead the way toward increasing dwell time, drive higher revenues, and enhance the Kingdom’s global awareness and association,” Najjar said.

“The upcoming challenge for immersive destinations will be expanding their appeal beyond just high-end and luxury markets,” he added. 

The combination of comfort, heritage, and sustainability supports ����ֱ��’s efforts to attract high-value visitors and promote lesser-known destinations.

Camilla Bevilacqua, partner at Arthur D. Little

Simon Mead, head of Discover Saudi DMC, part of Almosafer, noted that while early pioneers like Habitas have set benchmarks, large parts of the Kingdom remain untapped. He said the company has developed tailored desert experiences focused on authenticity over excess — offering privacy, storytelling, and traditional Bedouin hospitality.

“We’re also developing new experiences in places like Wadi Disah, a breathtaking and still lesser-known location that is accessible from both AlUla and Tabuk. This will extend our immersive desert offering and begin to formalize what the next generation of ‘Saudi glamping’ looks like, rooted in place, led by locals, and tailored to the traveler,” Mead said.

Supporting Vision 2030 goals

Industry experts agree that high-end glamping aligns with Vision 2030 by creating sustainable, experience-driven tourism that boosts revenue, generates jobs, and supports regional development.

From Arthur D. Little’s perspective, it attracts high-spending travelers seeking exclusive and authentic stays, benefiting related sectors such as transport, culture, and wellness. Bevilacqua said these ventures also foster local employment in hospitality, guiding, and culinary services, with growing emphasis on community involvement and SME participation.

“Overall, glamping advances Vision 2030’s goal of establishing ����ֱ�� as a global hub for sustainable tourism. These desert-based experiences are often designed with light-touch infrastructure, minimal environmental impact, and principles of ecological stewardship, offering a blueprint for how tourism can expand without compromising the integrity of the landscape,” Bevilacqua said.

“By aligning economic ambition with environmental sensitivity and community inclusion, high-end glamping serves as a mechanism for ����ֱ��’s transition toward a more experience-led, diversified, and resilient tourism economy,” she added.

Najjar highlighted how glamping developments stimulate local economies by involving nearby communities and engaging local suppliers, guides, and artisans. 

We’re developing new experiences in places like Wadi Disah, a breathtaking and still lesser-known location that is accessible from both AlUla and Tabuk.

Simon Mead, head of Discover Saudi DMC, part of Almosafer

“In KSA, and in alignment with Vision 2030’s emphasis on regional development and sustainable tourism, luxury glamping serves as an exemplary model. By designing low-impact, culturally resonant destinations, it ensures enduring benefits for both residents and visitors,” he said. For Discover Saudi DMC, sustainability means cultural and economic inclusion as much as environmental responsibility. Mead said their fully Saudi team in AlUla delivers authentic experiences while proudly sharing heritage with visitors.

“We’re also deeply committed to talent development. Through government-backed programs like Tamheer, we’re introducing young Saudis to the standards and expectations of global luxury tourism. High-end desert hospitality can be a powerful entry point, one that creates jobs, nurtures storytelling, and positions Saudi talent at the forefront of a growing sector,” Mead said. 

Tech meets tradition

����ֱ��’s luxury desert hospitality is moving into a new era, where landscape immersion is combined with technology-driven personalization.

Bevilacqua said innovations such as AI concierges, augmented reality stargazing, and immersive storytelling are enhancing guest engagement, and future models may involve multi-stop desert circuits that encourage regional travel. “Fundamentally, the evolution of desert glamping in ����ֱ�� is not driven by technology alone, but by a desire to enrich the visitor’s connection to place, reveal the deeper stories embedded in the landscape, and cultivate a form of hospitality that honors both local identity and national vision,” she said.

Najjar said PwC’s research shows that future value in destinations lies in smart, seamless integration of experiences.

“For developers and tourism authorities, this evolution presents a significant competitive advantage. By embracing tech-driven design, they can surpass traditional infrastructure, delight guests, optimize operations, and engage in data-driven planning, the hallmarks of a connected destination’s future,” he said.

Mead added that while AI concierges and AR stargazing can elevate experiences, they will never replace the human connection. “Ultimately, the future of luxury camping in ����ֱ�� is one where innovation and heritage sit side by side. It’s about pairing digital tools with deeply human moments, a formula that defines our approach as the Kingdom’s leading DMC,” he said.

RIYADH:  ����ֱ��’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, reached SR27.45 billion ($7.31 billion) in June, marking an annual rise of 22.1 percent, official data showed.

Preliminary figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed that the UAE remained the top destination for the Kingdom’s non-oil products, with exports to the Emirates amounting to SR7.85 billion in the sixth month of the year.

India was the second-largest non-oil trade partner, importing goods worth SR2.6 billion, followed by China at SR2.14 billion, Turkiye at SR946.2 million, and Egypt at SR871.2 million.

The rise in non-oil exports supports the goals of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify Saudi economy and reduce its reliance on oil revenues.

In its latest report, GASTAT stated: “Non-oil exports, including re-exports, recorded an increase of 22.1 percent compared to June 2024, while national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, increased by 8.4 percent.”

It added: “The value of re-exported goods increased by 60.2 percent during the same period.”

In a separate release, GASTAT noted that Saudi non-oil exports jumped 17.8 percent in the second quarter of 2025, offsetting weaker oil sales and highlighting the Kingdom’s accelerating diversification drive, official data showed.   

The increase included a 46.2 percent rise in re-exports, while national non-oil exports excluding re-exports climbed 5.6 percent.

Other major destinations for Saudi non-oil shipments in June included Belgium, which received goods worth SR675.2 million, followed by Oman at SR629.4 million, and Kuwait at SR594.4 million.

Exports to the US stood at SR446 million, while shipments to Singapore and the UK totaled SR394.3 million and SR322.3 million, respectively.

Departure locations

Among seaports, the King Fahad Industrial Port in Jubail handled the highest volume of outbound non-oil goods, valued at SR3.55 billion, followed closely by the Jeddah Islamic Sea Port at SR3.17 billion.

Jubail Sea Ports and Ras Al Khair facilitated non-oil exports worth SR2.19 billion and SR1.98 billion, respectively.

On land, the Al-Batha Port processed non-oil exports worth SR1.77 billion. Al-Hadithah and Al-Wadiah ports recorded outbound shipments of SR693.6 million and SR398.9 million, respectively.

King Abdulaziz International Airport led all air terminals, handling SR4.25 billion in non-oil exports in June — a 366.3 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

Machinery and chemicals lead the way

“Among the most important non-oil exports are chemical products, which constituted 24.5 percent of the total non-oil exports, recording an 8.5 percent increase compared to June 2024,” GASTAT noted.

Machinery, electrical equipment, and parts came in second, accounting for 23.3 percent of total non-oil exports and growing 168 percent year on year. The strength of Saudi non-oil private sector was further affirmed by Riyad Bank’s Purchasing Managers’ Index, compiled by S&P Global, which showed that the Kingdom’s headline PMI rose to 57.2 in June, up from 55.8 in May. This reading indicates a strong improvement in business conditions, exceeding the long-run average of 56.9.

A PMI score above 50 signals expansion, while a figure below that mark indicates contraction. ����ֱ��’s June PMI also outpaced that of its regional peers, with the UAE and Kuwait recording 53.5 and 53.1, respectively.

Merchandise exports

According to GASTAT, the Kingdom’s total merchandise exports in June increased by 3.7 percent year on year, although there was a 2.5 percent decrease in oil exports. Consequently, the percentage of oil exports out of total exports decreased from 74.7 percent in June 2024 to 70.2 percent a year later.

China was the top destination for ����ֱ��’s overall merchandise exports, with shipments valued at SR14.32 billion. The UAE followed at SR8.4 billion — a 43.5 percent jump compared to the previous year — while exports to India reached SR8.33 billion. South Korea and Japan imported SR8.22 billion and SR6.65 billion worth of goods, respectively, while Egypt accounted for SR4.48 billion.

Imports climb

Saudi imports in June reached SR70.03 billion, up 1.7 percent year on year, GASTAT reported.

Machinery, mechanical and electrical equipment topped the import list at SR21.42 billion, followed by transport equipment at SR8.75 billion and chemical products at SR6.38 billion.

Base metal imports stood at SR5.68 billion, while mineral products totaled SR3.95 billion.

By region, Asia remained the Kingdom’s largest trade partner, contributing SR39.68 billion in imports — a 9.2 percent rise from a year ago.

Imports from Europe and the Americas amounted to SR18.6 billion and SR8.23 billion, respectively. Africa supplied SR2.79 billion worth of goods, while imports from Oceania totaled SR719.7 million.

China led all countries as the top source of imports, with SR19.54 billion worth of shipments in June, a 27.7 percent year-on-year increase. The US followed with SR5.79 billion, ahead of the UAE at SR4.31 billion, India at SR3.19 billion, and Germany at SR2.94 billion.  Sea routes were the dominant entry channel for imports, accounting for SR41.47 billion — a 4.3 percent decrease year on year. Air and land routes handled SR21.2 billion and SR7.35 billion worth of inbound goods, respectively.

King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam led all seaports with SR17.7 billion in imports, followed by Jeddah Islamic Sea Port at SR16.18 billion and Ras Tanura Port at SR1.28 billion.

Among land entry points, Al-Batha Port managed SR3.07 billion worth of goods, while Riyadh Dry Port and King Fahad Bridge processed SR2.14 billion and SR691.7 million, respectively.

A mixed picture

While non-oil exports strengthened, ����ֱ��’s overall trade performance showed mixed signals across the second quarter of the year.

During this period, a 15.8 percent drop in oil exports dragged total merchandise exports down by 7.3 percent year on year. Combined with a 13.1 percent rise in imports, this pushed the merchandise trade balance surplus down by 56.2 percent compared to the same period in 2024.  Oil’s share of the Kingdom’s total exports slipped from 74.7 percent to 67.9 percent in the quarter, reflecting a gradual rebalancing of the
export basket.