The Saudi Convention and Exhibition General Authority (SCEGA) announced record growth in the Kingdom’s business events infrastructure, with capacity rising 32% year-on-year across 923 certified venues nationwide. The authority also reported a 320% increase in exhibition space since 2018, now totaling 300,520 square meters.
The announcement came as part of a SCEGA report on the events sector’s infrastructure, reflecting rising investment in business event and exhibition venues in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s tourism and events industry targets. The report showed that Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern Province together account for 90% of total capacity, led by major venues including the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center in Malham (78,000 sqm), Jeddah Superdome (34,000 sqm), and Dhahran Expo (25,600 sqm). Development also included new exhibition centers in other regions, such as the King Salman International Convention Center in Madinah, Maraya Hall in AlUla, the King Khalid University Convention and Exhibition Center in Asir, and the Prince Mishaal Convention and Events Center in Najran.
SCEGA linked this growth to the second edition of the International MICE Summit, held in Riyadh on November 26-27, 2025, bringing together more than 2,000 global industry leaders to showcase the major opportunities the sector offers in the Kingdom, one of the fastest-growing business events markets in the world.
Fahd Al-Rasheed, Chairman of SCEGA and official host of the summit, said: “Saudi Arabia continues its unprecedented growth trajectory in the business events sector, opening new horizons in this field, as Vision 2030 paves the way for a golden decade of major events, led by Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.” He added that the summit “will provide a platform bringing together decision-makers from across the Kingdom’s regions, including newly established destination management organizations, to collaborate with global events industry leaders,” supporting Saudi Arabia’s 2030 tourism target of welcoming 150 million visitors.
The report noted that the Kingdom had already reached its initial target of 100 million visitors seven years ahead of 2030, after which the target was raised to 150 million. During the first half of 2025, Saudi Arabia welcomed approximately 60.9 million domestic and international visitors, with total tourism spending exceeding SAR 161.4 billion ($43 billion).
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