Average trip spend among international visitors to Saudi Arabia surveyed in Visa's Global Travel Intentions Study reached SAR 10,405 ($2,774), with 54% of spending pre-booked and 46% taking place during the trip; accommodation accounted for 19% of spending, transportation 18%, food and beverages 17% and experiences 15%. US visitors recorded the highest average trip expenditure at SAR 21,530, followed by visitors from the UAE at SAR 14,046 and the UK at SAR 10,558, while 75% of respondents shopped during their stay and half said they used AI to find travel inspiration.
Destination marketers in Saudi should move budget into the pre-trip window where 54% of spending is committed and half of travellers now use AI for inspiration, rather than into arrival-stage campaigns.
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Brussels clears the path for EA
PIF's consortium set to win EU approval for the $55bn EA take-private — history's largest LBO — merger clearance due 22 July, subsidy review closes 30 July.
The takeaway: $55bn for a games company is the clearest statement yet that entertainment is not a side bet, gaming is a Saudi strategic asset class.
Retail sells, companies buy
Tadawul's market capitalisation slipped SAR 8.9 billion, or 0.10%, to SAR 9.299 trillion in the week ended 24 September, from SAR 9.308 trillion a week earlier. Foreign investors cut holdings by SAR 6.23 billion to 4.73% of total market capital, with foreign institutions alone selling SAR 5.55 billion, while Saudi retail investors reduced positions by SAR 14.33 billion and Saudi corporates increased theirs by SAR 13.06 billion.
Since domestic corporate money is now the main source of new investment, a CFO planning a Saudi equity raise should first check interest with local companies before arranging meetings with international investors.
The surplus widened sharply
Saudi Arabia's trade balance recorded a surplus of SR61.52 billion in the second quarter of 2026, an annual growth rate of 62%. Total merchandise exports rose 4% year on year to approximately SR285.98 billion while merchandise imports declined 5% to SR224.46 billion, according to GASTAT data.
Trade finance teams at Saudi banks should focus less on the 62% surplus growth and pay more attention to the 5% drop in imports, since their fees come from the part of the business that has decreased.
