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A joint statement issued on 2 September by the Ministry of Tourism and RX, organiser of the World Travel Market portfolio, named the ministry strategic partner for the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh. The partnership underscores efforts to accelerate tourism growth, strengthen international ties and advance the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The event will serve as a dedicated platform linking global tourism stakeholders with opportunities across the Kingdom’s evolving sector.
According to the statement, WTM Spotlight Riyadh will take place from 8 to 10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center. The gathering will convene destinations, tourism authorities, hospitality providers, airlines, travel technology companies, investors and industry leaders to pursue new commercial prospects. Organisers described the initiative as a B2B2C format spanning the entire travel ecosystem to lay groundwork for the event’s sustained development in Saudi Arabia.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director for the UAE at RX, said in the statement, “Our strategic partnership with the Ministry of Tourism is a defining moment for the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh and reflects the Kingdom’s ambition to play an even greater role in shaping the future of global tourism.” The announcement highlighted how the collaboration aims to foster meaningful exchanges and elevate Saudi Arabia’s position in worldwide tourism dialogue. Curtis noted the event’s design to connect the world to Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia to the world.
Details from the organisers’ prior launch materials indicate the inaugural edition will draw more than 6,500 regional and international visitors along with over 450 exhibitors. More than 150 international hosted buyers selected for their specific interest in the Saudi market will participate to generate targeted business engagement. RX positioned the Spotlight concept as a focused addition to its portfolio that delivers deeper market immersion than traditional broad exhibitions.
The Ministry of Tourism has set ambitious goals for the sector to attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030. Supporting research cited in RX announcements projects the tourism market will grow from 53.87 billion dollars in 2024 to 100.23 billion dollars by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 10.9 percent. The sector is additionally targeted to contribute 10 percent of national GDP by the end of the decade.
RX first revealed plans for WTM Spotlight Riyadh in a statement released in September 2025, initially listing late September dates before shifting to the current early September window. The organiser, which also runs Arabian Travel Market, framed the new event as a response to the Kingdom’s rapid infrastructure expansion in aviation, hospitality and major destination projects. Officials at RX have stressed the platform’s emphasis on converting interest into scheduled meetings, networking and actionable industry insights.
