International visitors to Saudi Arabia are staying longer, spending more and planning with artificial intelligence, according to Visa Global Travel Intentions Study findings published September 13, 2026. TradeArabia News Service reports the study found half of travelers used AI for trip inspiration and average trip spend reached SAR 10,405 (about $2,774).
The practical takeaway is budget and payment planning: 54 percent of that spend is pre-booked before arrival, cards lead in-destination payments and 42 percent of visitors still carry cash for emergencies. Travelers weighing Saudi trips can use the travel gear hub to sort the planning tools and payment backup this data says to pack.
- New findings date: September 13, 2026, via TradeArabia reporting on the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study.
- Study window: fieldwork ran November 2025 through February 2026 across 40 travel markets.
- Headline numbers: average trip spend of SAR 10,405, with 50 percent of visitors using AI for inspiration.
- Top spenders: United States visitors averaged SAR 21,530 per trip, the highest of any source market.
Half of Saudi Visitors Used AI to Plan, Visa Reports
AI now sits beside word of mouth in Saudi trip planning. The study found 50 percent of surveyed visitors used AI to find travel inspiration, 48 percent used it for reviews and recommendations, 45 percent used it to search flights and accommodation, and 36 percent relied on it to plan itineraries, as reported September 13, 2026.
Traditional sources still lead in places. Friends, family and fellow travelers were the most used recommendation source at 46 percent, followed by travel agents at 41 percent, social media at 39 percent and search engines at 38 percent. That mix matches our earlier read on AI planning trust in Most U.S. Travelers Use AI to Plan. Few Let It Spend: use AI for ideas, then confirm with people and reviews before money moves, a pattern an IndexBox summary of the same Visa findings also describes.
Average Trip Spend Hit SAR 10,405, Mostly Pre-Booked
The average surveyed trip spend of SAR 10,405 (about $2,774) splits 54 percent pre-booked and 46 percent spent during the trip. Accommodation took the largest share at 19 percent, followed by transportation at 18 percent, food and beverages at 17 percent and experiences at 15 percent.
For budget planning, that split argues for locking lodging and transport early, then reserving roughly half the budget for in-trip costs such as dining, shopping and tours. Visitors drawn by shopping should note that 75 percent of respondents shopped during their stay, including 43 percent at local markets and 37 percent at department stores or malls, with overlap between the two.
United States Visitors Spent SAR 21,530 Per Trip
Source market changes the budget picture sharply. United States visitors recorded the highest average trip expenditure at SAR 21,530, followed by visitors from the United Arab Emirates at SAR 14,046 and the United Kingdom at SAR 10,558, according to the September 13, 2026 report.
Long-haul travelers should therefore treat the $2,774 overall average as a floor, not a ceiling, when estimating a Saudi trip from the United States. The gap also fits the study motive mix of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage, leisure, visiting friends and relatives, and shopping, since longer multi-purpose stays cost more than short single-purpose ones.
Family Travel, Shopping and Cash Shape Saudi Visits
Family travel dominates the visitor profile: 75 percent of respondents traveled with family, while 28 percent cited a safe and secure destination as a motivation for visiting. Beyond shopping, 39 percent participated in experiences and tours and 24 percent visited theme parks during their stays.
Payment habits are shifting but not cashless. Credit and debit cards were the leading payment methods, mobile wallets are gaining traction, and 42 percent of visitors carried cash mainly for emergencies and smaller purchases, with cash at 23 percent of main-method share. Carry a primary card plus a small cash reserve. Entry planning matters just as much, so check current options in Saudi Arabia Package Visa Opens to Travelers From Seven Countries before booking nonrefundable legs.
Unified Gulf Visa Talks Add Multi-Country Context
A separate September 2026 development may extend these habits across borders. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said September 6, 2026 that a unified Gulf tourist visa is likely to be implemented soon, easing movement between Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Treat that visa as pending, not available: it has been announced as likely, not launched. If it lands, the longer-stay and higher-spend pattern Visa documents would apply to multi-country Gulf itineraries, making pre-booked lodging and cross-border payment backup even more valuable.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Plan a Saudi leisure trip with shopping time | Budget near the SAR 10,405 average, pre-book lodging and transport, and hold half for markets, malls and tours. |
| Travel from the United States for Hajj, Umrah or family | Plan above the average toward the SAR 21,530 United States figure and confirm entry rules before paying. |
| Use AI to sketch the itinerary | Take inspiration and reviews from AI, then verify with agents, family and recent traveler reviews before booking. |
| Prefer cashless payments abroad | Lead with cards and a mobile wallet, and still carry small cash for emergencies and small purchases. |
September 13, 2026 Visa findings are the budget gate. Set the trip budget from the SAR 10,405 average and the 54 percent pre-booked share before choosing dates.
November 2025 to February 2026 fieldwork is the currency check. Treat the behavior shares as recent-season evidence, and recheck entry fees and launch status for anything dated after February.
The pending unified Gulf visa is the routing watch. Do not build a multi-country itinerary on it until an official launch notice names eligible nationalities and start dates.
How much does a Saudi Arabia trip cost according to Visa?
Visa Global Travel Intentions Study findings reported September 13, 2026 put average trip spend at SAR 10,405 (about $2,774), with 54 percent pre-booked and 46 percent spent in trip.
How are visitors using AI to plan Saudi trips?
Half of surveyed visitors used AI for travel inspiration, 48 percent for reviews and recommendations, 45 percent for flight and hotel search, and 36 percent for itineraries.
Which visitors spend the most in Saudi Arabia?
United States visitors averaged SAR 21,530 per trip, ahead of the United Arab Emirates at SAR 14,046 and the United Kingdom at SAR 10,558.
Should I still carry cash in Saudi Arabia?
Cards lead and mobile wallets are growing, but 42 percent of visitors carried cash for emergencies and small buys, so a small reserve remains sensible.
Is the unified Gulf tourist visa available now?
No. Gulf officials said September 6, 2026 that the visa is likely soon, but no launch with eligible nationalities or dates has been announced.
