- WTM Spotlight Riyadh officially opens at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), marking the launch of a new platform connecting the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world
- Leading regional and international destinations and travel brands come together for three days of business, networking and knowledge exchange
- Conference programme brings together senior Saudi and international voices to examine Vision 2030, outbound market opportunities and the future of connected travel experiences
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,September 2026: On behalf of H.E. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism, Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) CEO Ageel AlShaibani has officially opened the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh, marking the launch of a new international meeting place for the travel and tourism industry as Saudi Arabia continues its transformation into one of the world’s most dynamic tourism markets under Vision 2030.
Organised by RX and taking place until Thursday 10 September at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), WTM Spotlight Riyadh, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, brings together destinations, tourism authorities, hospitality and experience providers, airlines, travel technology companies, travel buyers, investors and industry leaders, creating a focused environment for business, collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The opening marks an important milestone as Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations. Under Vision 2030, tourism has become a key pillar of the Kingdom’s economic diversification strategy, with the sector targeted to contribute 10% of GDP and Saudi Arabia aiming to welcome 150 million domestic and international visitors annually by the end of the decade.
Ageel AlShaibani, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “With tourism spending growing by 5% year-on-year in H1 2026, Saudi’s tourism fundamentals remain exceptionally strong, underscoring the depth and durability of our market. WTM Spotlight Riyadh brings that opportunity to life for our partners, connecting global travel buyers directly with the destinations, products and experiences shaping the future of tourism in Saudi. We look forward to deepening these relationships and unlocking new opportunities for the travel trade across the Kingdom.”
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX, said: “The opening of the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh is an important moment for us and for the international travel community. Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s most dynamic tourism markets, and we are delighted to bring the industry together here in Riyadh as the Kingdom continues its extraordinary transformation under Vision 2030.
“WTM Spotlight Riyadh has been created to connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world. Over the next three days, our focus is on creating meaningful business connections, encouraging the exchange of ideas and giving international and Saudi travel businesses the opportunity to build relationships and explore new commercial opportunities.
“This first edition is the beginning of that journey. We want WTM Spotlight Riyadh to develop alongside Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, strengthening connections between the Kingdom and international markets and supporting the partnerships and ideas that will help shape the future of tourism.”
The exhibition floor reflects the breadth of the global travel industry, spanning destinations, hotels, attractions, transportation, experiences and travel technology.
High-profile Saudi Arabian organisations exhibiting at WTM Spotlight Riyadh include, amongst others, Amsa Hospitality, Taiba Investments, flyadeal, Hilton KSA Hotels, and The Jeddah Edition. They will be joined by international brands including Accor, MSC Cruises, Delta Air Lines, Etihad Airways and Webook.com.
Alongside the exhibition, the three-day conference programme brings together Saudi and international tourism leaders to examine the trends, opportunities and challenges shaping the Kingdom’s visitor economy and the wider global travel industry.
Today, the opening day will focus on Driving Growth for Vision 2030. The Policy Panel: Enabling Growth – Regulation, Visas and Private Sector Participation will bring together Anju Gomes, Senior Regional Director Middle East, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA); Dr. Abdullatif Alafaliq, President, National Committee for Tourism Services, Federation of Saudi Chambers; Abdulmohsen Alanazi, Head of Protocol and Guest Management, Saudi Motorsport Company; and Ali Ibrahim, Immigration Lead Director, Saudi Arabia, Vialto Partners Middle East.
On Wednesday, 9 September, the programme turns to Outbound Demand & Market Access, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a major global source market.
The Innovation Startup Showcase: How the Kingdom is Building Tourism’s Most Ambitious Ecosystem will explore the innovation and investment driving Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving tourism sector.
Speakers include Sultan Moraished, Chief of Technology and Corporate Excellence, Red Sea Global; HH Prince Saud Al Saud, Executive Director, TDF Grow, Tourism Development Fund; Mohamed Elbeheiry, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, EyeGo; and Njoud Al Yousef, Lead, Startups and SMEs Engagement, United Nations Global Compact.
On Thursday, 10 September, attention will turn to the experiences, connectivity and technologies shaping the next phase of tourism development. Discussions throughout the day will examine how mobility, artificial intelligence, destination experiences and innovation are changing the way visitors discover, navigate and experience destinations.
Salman A. Alarifi, General Manager of Technology Enablement, Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia, will lead the AI Tourism Vision: Enabling Hyper-Personalisation and Connectivity session, exploring how artificial intelligence can support the next phase of Saudi Arabia’s tourism development.
Through its distinctive B2B2C format, WTM Spotlight Riyadh brings the international travel community directly into the Saudi market, creating opportunities to understand evolving traveller demand, develop partnerships and experience firsthand the transformation taking place across the Kingdom’s tourism sector.
Visitor registration for WTM Spotlight Riyadh is now open, with travel professionals invited to secure their place at the inaugural event and engage directly with one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
About WTM Spotlight Riyadh:
WTM Spotlight in Saudi Arabia is the definitive launchpad for Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions – a platform purpose-built to connect the Kingdom’s growing tourism sector with the global travel industry. The show promotes meaningful exchange between regional stakeholders and international players. It’s where global travel brands gain direct access to one of the most promising new markets, and where Saudi Arabia showcases its destinations, vision, and investment opportunities to the world. WTM Spotlight Riyadh plays a vital role in shaping the Kingdom’s journey as a rising force in global tourism.
About RX:
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 41 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers.
About RELX:
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents.
The events are:
WTM Spotlight India is a refined, high-impact platform that brings the legacy of the globally renowned WTM portfolio to India – anchored by WTM London and spanning leading travel trade events including Arabian Travel Market, WTM Latin America, WTM Africa, and WTM Spotlight Riyadh.
Building on this heritage of excellence, innovation, and high-value connections, WTM Spotlight India will debut at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, from 2–4 March, 2027. Designed as a curated, business-first experience, it offers a premium platform for India’s travel and tourism stakeholders to engage with global opportunities, foster strategic partnerships, and unlock growth in one of the world’s most dynamic travel markets.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), now in its 33rd year, is held annually in Dubai – the gateway to global travel and tourism with unmatched connectivity – and is where the energy of opportunity comes to life.
More than just an event, ATM is a dynamic hub for industry communities, with forums, experiences, and networking that continue well beyond the show floor over the week. Now in a period of rapid expansion, ATM has grown by 16% year-on-year, attracting over 55,000 travel professionals from 166 countries.
WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.
WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7,000 unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019, and welcomed more than 6,000 visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim of keeping all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.https://hub.wtm.com/
