A groundbreaking array events in the Kingdom to transform it into one of the worlds most happening winter destinations

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this winter season, has come up with a jam-packed itinerary of activities planned for both tourism and entertainment. With its ground-breaking 17,000 events, Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the world's most exciting winter travel destinations. Saudi Arabia is quickly becoming a surprising favorite because of events like folklore festivals and "Winter at Tantora" in AlUla.

The height of winter amusement in Saudi Arabia used to be picnics on the corniche or get-togethers in the desert, until a few years ago. However, the variety of activities available this winter is drawing visitors from all around the world.

The last year has been filled with several noteworthy accomplishments. In the first three quarters of 2023, tourist spending surpassed SR 100 billion ($26.6 billion), according to a recent data from the Saudi Central Bank. Furthermore, for the first quarter of last year, the UN World Tourism Organisation named the Kingdom the second-fastest-growing tourist destination in the world.

The original goal of the Kingdom's National Tourism Strategy was to bring in 100 million visitors a year by 2030. The Saudi minister of tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, declared in October that the goal had been raised to 150 million. Saudi Arabia welcomed 17 million foreign tourists in the first seven months of 2023, with plans to welcome 30 million by the end of the year.

Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Sofia Vergara, Alicia Keys, and Andrew Garfield are just a few celebrities who have already visited the Kingdom.

Al-Balad in Jeddah has long been a popular historical attraction. Now, renewed interest has been sparked by a new calendar of cultural events. It will house Voices of Al-Balad and the Balad Al-Fann project in the upcoming months. 

The Saudi Cup, the highly anticipated equestrian competition in the Kingdom, is held in February after the Diriyah E-Prix in Riyadh at the end of January.  A unique experience for football enthusiasts at CR7 Signature Museum, a combination of art and gastronomy at Layali Diriyah, an immersive life-sized Monopoly board, virtual reality gaming at Metaworld, and the first Disney Castle in the Middle East are all located in Riyadh.

Meanwhile, bookings for the newly constructed St. Regis Red Sea Resort, Nujuma Ritz Carlton Reserve, and Six Senses Southern Dunes in the Red Sea area have surged since the Kingdom's new Red Sea International Airport opened in September. 

AlUla, in the northwest of the Kingdom, is already well-known for its laid-back escapes and music festivals, but the AlUla Arts Festival in February is sure to bring a lot more visitors.

In addition, guests may enjoy stargazing in Gharameel until March 9 beneath beautiful night sky, or they can experience the excitement of hot air ballooning with breathtaking views of the area from April 10 to April 17 during the AlUla sky Festival.  

Some of the earliest ancient sites in the Kingdom may be found in AlUla, which is one of the "Seven Wonders of the World for 2023" according to Conde Nast Traveller. These include Dadan and Lihyan, Jabal AlFil (Elephant Rock), and Hegra (formerly known as Madaen Saleh).  Walking through AlUla's revitalised Old Town, which still has ruins of the city's historic stone and mud brick buildings or taking in a unique musical experience at the breathtaking Maraya Concert Hall, an architectural marvel covered in 9,740 mirrors that allows it to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, are other options for visitors.

There is much more for visitors filling them with excitement and adventures.