The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has launched the ‘Saudi Winter’ events calendar that showcases an array of activities taking place in seven destinations – Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, the Red Sea, the Eastern Region, Madinah, and Hail – from October 2024 until the end of Q1, 2025, a report said.

The calendar is part of the Saudi Winter Program 2024-2025, which features over 1,000 tourist experiences and events across the kingdom, along with more than 500 special offers, Saudi Press Agency, SPA, said.

It includes notable events such as Riyadh Season, Diriyah Season, AlUla Season, Madinah Season, and the Jeddah Calendar, as well as major events like the Dakar Rally, MDL Beast, Saudi Cruise, and the Islamic Arts Biennale.

The programme also includes hiking trails, camps, and caravan trips to winter destinations.

 Tourists and visitors interested in learning more about this year's Saudi Winter Program can visit the ‘Spirit of Saudi’ platform to explore various offers, packages, and exclusive discounts. The first phase includes more than 50 offers in collaboration with partners from the private sector.

The Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the STA, Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, recently announced the launch of the Saudi Winter programme during a workshop that saw the participation of tourism stakeholders, who were engaged in discussions on key achievements, goals, and challenges.

Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and board member of the STA, has underlined the steady progress of the Saudi tourism sector, which has achieved remarkable growth and record-breaking milestones through collaboration between the public and private sectors.

He welcomed tourists from around the world to take part in the diverse events and programmes offered by this year's Saudi Winter Program, which, he said, has tripled the number of global and specialised activities compared to last year, alongside offers and packages.