The fifth annual Kingdom Business & Luxury Travel (KBLT) Congress opens at the Mövenpick Hotel and Residences Riyadh on September 6–7, 2026, bringing together more than 100 pre-qualified Saudi buyers and leading international travel brands as the Kingdom's outbound luxury market continues its rapid expansion.

Saudi outbound tourism spending is projected to exceed $30.7 billion (SAR 115 billion) in 2026, driven by an estimated 12.3 million international outbound trips.

The country's luxury travel segment, valued at approximately $13.5 billion this year, is forecast to surpass $25 billion by 2033.

Against this backdrop, KBLT's Advisory Board says Saudi luxury travellers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, moving beyond traditional five-star offerings toward highly personalised, authentic and experience-led travel.

Sulaiman Al-Romi, Chairman of the KBLT Congress Advisory Board and Chairman & CEO of Gulf Reps, Saudi Premier Travel & Tourism Group, said the Congress has evolved alongside the market.

"KBLT has evolved from a gathering into a truly international congress with unprecedented global demand and high attendance interest. This growth mirrors the remarkable transformation of Saudi Arabia's outbound luxury travel market, which has matured rapidly. Saudi luxury travellers are now among the most discerning and sought-after globally."

Al-Romi said the biggest change is not simply higher spending, but rising expectations. "The most significant shift is the transition from conventional luxury to curated, purpose-driven, and highly personalized experiences. Today's Saudi luxury and business travellers seek cultural immersion, wellness, privacy, and seamless bespoke services. They are well-travelled, digitally savvy, and place great value on authenticity and exclusivity rather than just standardized five-star amenities."

The shift is also reflected in Saudi Arabia's growing tourism proposition.

Waleed Bin Huzaim, Strategic Communication & International Protocol Consultant to the Government Sector in KSA, said the country's tourism narrative is increasingly moving from future ambitions to tangible experiences.

"A few years ago, much of Saudi Arabia's tourism communication was about presenting the ambition and showing the world what the Kingdom was planning to build. Today, the story is different. Many of those ambitions have become real experiences that visitors can see and enjoy for themselves … This represents an important shift in Saudi tourism communication: from talking about ambition to inviting the world to experience it."

For destinations seeking to capture Saudi demand, the opportunity lies in creating products around the traveller's desired experience rather than simply selling accommodation.

Daniel Ponzo, Managing Director of Zahid Travel Group, KSA, said:  "Saudi travellers are increasingly choosing destinations based on the experience narrative, not just hotel brand but authentic moments … Many destinations still sell rooms and itineraries rather than curated experiences. They underestimate how much Saudi Travellers value discretion, flexible schedule and genuinely bespoke service. There is still a gap in destinations building product specifically for this segment."

Ponzo summarised the market's transformation: "Saudi luxury travellers have moved from wanting the best hotel to wanting the best story. Destinations that understand this shift will be the ones winning this market over the next decade."

Sidh NC, Director of QnA International, said KBLT's growth reflects the importance of the Saudi outbound market and the increasing sophistication of its travellers.

"Every edition of KBLT has grown alongside the market it serves, and this year is no exception. What started as a platform for connecting Saudi buyers with global travel brands has become one of the most closely watched luxury travel gatherings in the region. The Saudi outbound traveller is more sophisticated and more demanding than ever, and this edition is about making sure the destinations and brands in the room are ready to meet that."

With Saudi Arabia emerging as a major global luxury outbound market, KBLT 2026 is positioned as a meeting point between the country's travel-trade leadership and international destinations competing for Saudi business.

Over two days in Riyadh, the Congress aims to turn a deeper understanding of the Saudi traveller into direct commercial relationships and partnerships. -TradeArabia News Service