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Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026

Saudi Arabia and UK Tourism Agencies Sign MoU to Boost Collaboration and Growth

Saudi Arabia and UK Tourism Agencies Sign MoU to Boost Collaboration and Growth

The Saudi Tourism Authority and VisitBritain, the UK's national tourism agency, have signed a declaration of intent to collaborate and share expertise on tourism growth.
The UK expects 240,000 visitors from Saudi Arabia this year, a 9% increase from 2019, with travelers spending £752 million ($65.56 million), a 20% increase since 2019.

UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer emphasized the importance of this partnership to encourage more Saudis and Britons to travel between the two countries, as Saudi Arabia undergoes significant societal and economic changes.

The UK Secretary of State, Lucy Frazer, expressed her country's desire to be a strong partner with Saudi Arabia in tourism, collaborating in areas such as knowledge, expertise, and best practice sharing.

The signing of the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between VisitBritain and the Saudi Tourism Authority was attended by Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Vice Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa Al-Saud, and Saudi Tourism Authority CEO Fahd Hamidaddin, along with Nick de Bois, VisitBritain's chairman, and Patricia Yates, its CEO.

Frazer also discussed a potential heritage agreement between Historic England and its Saudi counterpart, which would facilitate joint training and expertise sharing in the restoration of palaces and historic buildings.

The text is about a visit by British Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, known as Frazer, to Saudi Arabia for the GREAT Futures forum.

She expressed excitement about the trip and looked forward to collaborating with Saudi Arabian ministers in culture, sport, and tourism.

The historical partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia was emphasized, with over 165,600 British tourists and 560,462 e-visas issued since 2019.

The forum was described as an essential platform for sharing expertise and learning.

A two-day conference took place at King Abdullah Financial District in Saudi Arabia, inviting British companies to engage with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 transformation.

The conference included 47 sessions and workshops with 127 speakers, focusing on strengthening partnerships in 13 sectors such as tourism, education, and finance.

Over 450 British delegates and company heads attended, holding meetings with Saudi officials and community members.

The event aimed to foster collaboration between the two countries.
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