{
  "slug": "saudi-middle-east-hotels",
  "question": "How big is the Saudi and Middle East hotel market for a hospitality startup — how many properties, what rooms earn, how full they are, and how digital hotel operators already are?",
  "title": "Saudi Arabia and Middle East Hotels 2026: Licensed Supply, Room Rates, Occupancy and Digital Readiness",
  "answer": {
    "headline": "Saudi Arabia had 6,278 licensed hospitality facilities in Q2 2026 — 3,020 hotels and 3,258 serviced apartments — with hotel rooms up 13.2% year on year, yet licensed hotels filled 51.0% of rooms at SAR 563 a night (GASTAT, Q2 2026). Across Middle East & Africa the big chains lost a third of RevPAR in Q2 2026 (Marriott −33.1%, Hilton −29.5%), while only 35.2% of Saudi accommodation and food service establishments have a website and 33.5% use AI (GASTAT, 2025).",
    "sample": "GASTAT (Saudi General Authority for Statistics): Tourism Establishments Statistics Q4 2025, Q1 and Q2 2026, Umrah Statistics Q3 2025, Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2024 and 2025; Saudi Central Bank weekly POS report (August 2026); Saudi Ministry of Tourism via SPA; Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and IHG Q2/H1 2026 filings (sec.gov); Dubai DET via WAM; Oman NCSI; Israel CBS; ILOSTAT.",
    "verifiedAsOf": "2026-10-07"
  },
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "saudi-supply",
      "title": "Saudi Arabia: licensed hospitality supply and the businesses behind it",
      "note": "Licensed facilities only — the Ministry of Tourism licence register as counted by GASTAT. Serviced apartments outnumber hotels. Employment and establishment counts cover all tourism activities (accommodation, food service, travel agencies and more), not hotels alone.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Licensed tourism hospitality facilities, total",
          "value": "6,278",
          "segment": "hotels + serviced apartments and other facilities",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Licensed hotels",
          "value": "3,020",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Licensed serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities",
          "value": "3,258",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Growth in licensed hotel rooms, year on year",
          "value": "13.2%",
          "segment": "rooms, not facilities",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Growth in licensed rooms in serviced apartments and other facilities, year on year",
          "value": "19.7%",
          "segment": "rooms",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Growth in number of licensed hospitality facilities, year on year",
          "value": "22.7%",
          "segment": "facilities",
          "period": "Q1 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Tourism establishments with employees",
          "value": "179,507",
          "segment": "all tourism activities, not hotels only",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "People employed in tourism activities",
          "value": "1,069,120",
          "segment": "all tourism activities",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Small and medium-sized establishments, share of tourism establishments",
          "value": "99.9%",
          "segment": "all tourism activities",
          "period": "Q1 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q1 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q1-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Large tourism establishments",
          "value": "200",
          "segment": "all tourism activities",
          "period": "Q1 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q1 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q1-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Non-Saudi workers, share of tourism employment",
          "value": "76%",
          "segment": "all tourism activities",
          "period": "Q4 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q4 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435281/Tourism_Establishments_Statistics_Q4_of_2025_EN.pdf_fixed_13419785/08283ea6-b020-e20e-a0c8-e8b6c0539eaf?version=1.0&t=1775958820923",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "saudi-rates",
      "title": "Saudi Arabia: room rates, occupancy and RevPAR by facility type",
      "note": "Quarterly figures move with the pilgrimage calendar: Q2 2026 includes the Hajj season, so the hotel rate is high and occupancy low against Q4. Compare a quarter with the same quarter a year earlier, not with the previous quarter.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Average daily rate, licensed hotels",
          "value": "SAR 563",
          "segment": "Hajj-season quarter",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average daily rate, serviced apartments and other facilities",
          "value": "SAR 197",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Room occupancy, licensed hotels",
          "value": "51.0%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Room occupancy, serviced apartments and other facilities",
          "value": "46.5%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average daily rate, licensed hotels",
          "value": "SAR 389",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q4 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q4 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435281/Tourism_Establishments_Statistics_Q4_of_2025_EN.pdf_fixed_13419785/08283ea6-b020-e20e-a0c8-e8b6c0539eaf?version=1.0&t=1775958820923",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average daily rate, serviced apartments and other facilities",
          "value": "SAR 207",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q4 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q4 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435281/Tourism_Establishments_Statistics_Q4_of_2025_EN.pdf_fixed_13419785/08283ea6-b020-e20e-a0c8-e8b6c0539eaf?version=1.0&t=1775958820923",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Room occupancy, licensed hotels",
          "value": "57.3%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q4 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q4 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435281/Tourism_Establishments_Statistics_Q4_of_2025_EN.pdf_fixed_13419785/08283ea6-b020-e20e-a0c8-e8b6c0539eaf?version=1.0&t=1775958820923",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Room occupancy, serviced apartments and other facilities",
          "value": "55.9%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q4 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q4 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435281/Tourism_Establishments_Statistics_Q4_of_2025_EN.pdf_fixed_13419785/08283ea6-b020-e20e-a0c8-e8b6c0539eaf?version=1.0&t=1775958820923",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "RevPAR, licensed hotels",
          "value": "SAR 222.90",
          "segment": "per available room-night",
          "period": "Q4 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q4 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435281/Tourism_Establishments_Statistics_Q4_of_2025_EN.pdf_fixed_13419785/08283ea6-b020-e20e-a0c8-e8b6c0539eaf?version=1.0&t=1775958820923",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "RevPAR, serviced apartments and other facilities",
          "value": "SAR 115.71",
          "segment": "per available room-night",
          "period": "Q4 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q4 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435281/Tourism_Establishments_Statistics_Q4_of_2025_EN.pdf_fixed_13419785/08283ea6-b020-e20e-a0c8-e8b6c0539eaf?version=1.0&t=1775958820923",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average length of stay, hotel guests",
          "value": "4.2 nights",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q1 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q1 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q1-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average length of stay, serviced apartments and other facilities",
          "value": "2.2 nights",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "Q1 2026",
          "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q1 2026",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q1-of-2026-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "chains-mea",
      "title": "International chains in Middle East & Africa: Q2 2026 performance and footprint",
      "note": "Comparable-hotel figures reported by each chain for its Middle East & Africa region, in US dollars. Q2 2026 was a sharp downturn for the region; one quarter is not a trend, and each chain defines its comparable set differently.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Hilton — average daily rate, comparable hotels",
          "value": "$176.72",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Hilton Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hilton — occupancy, comparable hotels",
          "value": "53.0%",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Hilton Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hilton — RevPAR, comparable hotels",
          "value": "$93.65",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Hilton Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hilton — RevPAR change, year on year",
          "value": "−29.5%",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Hilton Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hyatt — average daily rate, comparable hotels",
          "value": "$194.81",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Hyatt Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1468174/000146817426000021/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hyatt — occupancy, comparable hotels",
          "value": "50.5%",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Hyatt Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1468174/000146817426000021/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hyatt — RevPAR, comparable hotels",
          "value": "$98.43",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Hyatt Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1468174/000146817426000021/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Marriott — average daily rate, comparable systemwide hotels",
          "value": "$159.44",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Marriott Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1048286/000104828626000033/mar-2026q2xex99earningsrel.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Marriott — RevPAR, comparable systemwide hotels",
          "value": "$80.48",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Marriott Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1048286/000104828626000033/mar-2026q2xex99earningsrel.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Marriott — RevPAR change, year on year",
          "value": "−33.1%",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa, systemwide",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Marriott Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1048286/000104828626000033/mar-2026q2xex99earningsrel.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Marriott — RevPAR change, year on year",
          "value": "−43%",
          "segment": "Middle East only",
          "period": "Q2 2026",
          "source": "Marriott Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1048286/000104828626000033/mar-2026q2xex99earningsrel.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hilton — hotels in operation",
          "value": "170",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "30 June 2026",
          "source": "Hilton Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hilton — rooms in operation",
          "value": "42,689",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "30 June 2026",
          "source": "Hilton Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hilton — managed rooms",
          "value": "34,457",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa · managed, not franchised",
          "period": "30 June 2026",
          "source": "Hilton Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hyatt — rooms in system",
          "value": "11,420",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "30 June 2026",
          "source": "Hyatt Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1468174/000146817426000021/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Hyatt — franchised rooms",
          "value": "779",
          "segment": "Middle East & Africa",
          "period": "30 June 2026",
          "source": "Hyatt Q2 2026 earnings release",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1468174/000146817426000021/q22026earningsrelease.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "IHG — open hotels",
          "value": "48",
          "segment": "Saudi Arabia",
          "period": "H1 2026",
          "source": "IHG half-year 2026 report",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/858446/000165495426007436/a0528q.htm",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "IHG — hotels in development pipeline",
          "value": "63",
          "segment": "Saudi Arabia",
          "period": "H1 2026",
          "source": "IHG half-year 2026 report",
          "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/858446/000165495426007436/a0528q.htm",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "region-occupancy",
      "title": "Occupancy elsewhere in the region",
      "note": "National statistics with different bases: Dubai and Oman report room occupancy, Israel reports bed occupancy. Years differ; read them as levels for each market, not a ranking.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Dubai — average hotel occupancy",
          "value": "80.7%",
          "segment": "all hotel establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Dubai DET via WAM",
          "url": "https://www.wam.ae/a/aq5ek2j",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Dubai — average hotel occupancy, January–October",
          "value": "74%",
          "segment": "pre-pandemic comparator",
          "period": "2019",
          "source": "Dubai DET via WAM",
          "url": "https://www.wam.ae/a/aq5ek2j",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Oman — room occupancy, five-star hotels",
          "value": "50.4%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Oman NCSI",
          "url": "https://api.ncsi.gov.om/uploads/pdfs/publicationpdf1759379374.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Oman — room occupancy, three-star hotels",
          "value": "45.2%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Oman NCSI",
          "url": "https://api.ncsi.gov.om/uploads/pdfs/publicationpdf1759379374.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Oman — room occupancy, one-star, unclassified, hotel apartments and guest houses",
          "value": "24.1%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Oman NCSI",
          "url": "https://api.ncsi.gov.om/uploads/pdfs/publicationpdf1759379374.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Israel — hotel bed occupancy",
          "value": "48.4%",
          "segment": "bed, not room occupancy",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Israel Central Bureau of Statistics",
          "url": "https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/DocLib/2025/tourism_q1_25/e_print.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Israel — hotel revenue from foreign tourists, change year on year",
          "value": "−70.7%",
          "segment": "",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "Israel Central Bureau of Statistics",
          "url": "https://www.cbs.gov.il/he/publications/DocLib/2025/tourism_q1_25/e_print.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "saudi-demand",
      "title": "Saudi Arabia: who pays — tourism spending, pilgrims and card payments at hotels",
      "note": "Spending covers all tourism, not accommodation alone. Card data counts point-of-sale transactions at hotel merchants for one week; online prepayment through booking platforms is not included.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Inbound tourism spending",
          "value": "SAR 176.6 billion",
          "segment": "international visitors, all tourism spending",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Saudi Ministry of Tourism via SPA",
          "url": "https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2615138",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Domestic tourism spending",
          "value": "SAR 127.1 billion",
          "segment": "residents, all tourism spending",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "Saudi Ministry of Tourism via SPA",
          "url": "https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2615138",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Umrah performers, internal and external",
          "value": "10,969,639",
          "segment": "one quarter",
          "period": "Q3 2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Umrah Statistics Q3 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/umrah-statistics-q3-2025-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Weekly card spending at hotel merchants",
          "value": "SAR 282,808 thousand",
          "segment": "point-of-sale, one week",
          "period": "August 2026",
          "source": "Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) weekly POS report",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/ar-sa/Statistics/Indices/POS/Weekly_Points_of_Sale_Transactions_Report_29th-Aug-2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Average card ticket at hotel merchants",
          "value": "SAR 326.57",
          "segment": "per POS transaction",
          "period": "August 2026",
          "source": "Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) weekly POS report",
          "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/ar-sa/Statistics/Indices/POS/Weekly_Points_of_Sale_Transactions_Report_29th-Aug-2026.pdf",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "digital-readiness",
      "title": "Saudi Arabia: how digital accommodation and food service businesses are",
      "note": "GASTAT reports the accommodation and food service activity as one group (hotels together with restaurants and cafés). Shares are of establishments in that group; the all-activities row is the economy-wide comparator.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "Use social media",
          "value": "71.5%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025ar-en",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Use the internet for electronic banking",
          "value": "82.4%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025ar-en",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Use IoT for customer service",
          "value": "52.2%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025ar-en",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Use the internet for customer service",
          "value": "50.5%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025ar-en",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Use cloud computing services",
          "value": "46.2%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025ar-en",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Sell or display goods and services online",
          "value": "39.3%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Sell or display goods and services online — all activities",
          "value": "33.5%",
          "segment": "economy-wide comparator",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Have a website",
          "value": "35.2%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025ar-en",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Use AI technologies",
          "value": "33.5%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025-en-pdf",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Use AI technologies",
          "value": "26.2%",
          "segment": "accommodation and food service establishments",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2024",
          "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/20117/2435267/Establishments+ICT+Access+and+Usage+Statistics+2024-EN.pdf/2b4e45e8-ccbe-9767-1615-2f7d21236a9c?t=1766638872322",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "labour",
      "title": "Working hours in accommodation and food service",
      "note": "ILOSTAT mean weekly hours actually worked in the main job, ISIC section I (accommodation and food service together), all employed persons.",
      "rows": [
        {
          "label": "United Arab Emirates — mean weekly hours actually worked",
          "value": "51.91 hours",
          "segment": "ISIC I, accommodation and food service",
          "period": "2025",
          "source": "ILOSTAT",
          "url": "https://sdmx.ilo.org/rest/data/ILO,DF_HOW_TEMP_SEX_ECO_NB,1.0/ARE.A..SEX_T.ECO_ISIC4_I?startPeriod=2019&format=csvfile",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Egypt — mean weekly hours actually worked",
          "value": "50.49 hours",
          "segment": "ISIC I",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "ILOSTAT",
          "url": "https://sdmx.ilo.org/rest/data/ILO,DF_HOW_TEMP_SEX_ECO_NB,1.0/EGY.A..SEX_T.ECO_ISIC4_I?startPeriod=2019&format=csvfile",
          "tier": 1
        },
        {
          "label": "Jordan — mean weekly hours actually worked",
          "value": "49.74 hours",
          "segment": "ISIC I",
          "period": "2024",
          "source": "ILOSTAT",
          "url": "https://sdmx.ilo.org/rest/data/ILO,DF_HOW_TEMP_SEX_ECO_NB,1.0/JOR.A..SEX_T.ECO_ISIC4_I?startPeriod=2019&format=csvfile",
          "tier": 1
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "reconciliation": {
    "title": "Why Saudi and chain numbers do not line up",
    "body": "Four things change the answer. First, perimeter: GASTAT counts every licensed facility, most of them small and independent, while Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott report only their comparable branded hotels across the whole Middle East & Africa region — a market dominated by the Gulf but not limited to it. Second, currency and denominator: GASTAT reports in riyals per room-night for licensed hotels and, separately, serviced apartments; the chains report in US dollars, and Marriott's systemwide figure mixes managed and franchised hotels. Third, seasonality: Saudi quarters move with the Hajj and Umrah calendar, so a Q2 rate is not comparable with a Q4 rate; compare like quarters. Fourth, sector grouping: GASTAT's digital-usage survey and ILOSTAT's hours both treat accommodation and food service as one activity, so they describe hotels and restaurants together. Neighbouring markets use their own bases (Israel reports bed occupancy, Dubai and Oman room occupancy), so the regional rows are levels, not a league table.",
    "sources": [
      {
        "source": "GASTAT — Tourism Establishments Statistics, Q2 2026",
        "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/tourism-establishments-statistics-q2-of-2026-en-pdf"
      },
      {
        "source": "GASTAT — Establishments ICT Access and Usage Statistics 2025",
        "url": "https://www.stats.gov.sa/documents/d/guest/establishments-ict-access-and-usage-statistics-2025-en-pdf"
      },
      {
        "source": "Hilton — Q2 2026 earnings release (SEC filing)",
        "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1585689/000158568926000042/q22026earningsrelease.htm"
      },
      {
        "source": "Marriott — Q2 2026 earnings release (SEC filing)",
        "url": "https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1048286/000104828626000033/mar-2026q2xex99earningsrel.htm"
      },
      {
        "source": "Saudi Central Bank — weekly POS transactions report",
        "url": "https://www.sama.gov.sa/ar-sa/Statistics/Indices/POS/Weekly_Points_of_Sale_Transactions_Report_29th-Aug-2026.pdf"
      }
    ]
  },
  "methodology": "Every number on this page is a fact node in the God of Startups Atlas — a knowledge graph where each metric carries its source URL, reporting period, evidence tier and the verbatim quote it was taken from. All rows here are tier 1: national statistics offices (GASTAT, Oman NCSI, Israel CBS), the Saudi Central Bank, government news agencies, ILOSTAT and statutory company filings with the US SEC. Values are shown in the currency the source reports; nothing is converted, estimated or modelled. Year-on-year changes are the sources' own published figures.",
  "metaTitle": "Saudi Arabia Hotels 2026: Supply, Room Rates, Occupancy",
  "metaDescription": "Saudi Arabia had 6,278 licensed hospitality facilities in Q2 2026; hotel rooms +13.2% a year, occupancy 51.0% at SAR 563 a night (GASTAT).",
  "page": "https://godofstartups.com/atlas/saudi-middle-east-hotels",
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "note": "Each row carries its primary source, period and evidence tier (1 = official/statutory, 2 = industry research with disclosed method)."
}