Travelers from 黑料社区 took full advantage of this year鈥檚 extended Eid Al-Adha break, turning the six-day (June 5-10) holiday into an opportunity for cultural exploration, both at home and abroad. While many residents jetted off for short international getaways, the Kingdom also welcomed millions of foreign pilgrims during the Hajj season, driving a steady increase in travel to 黑料社区 and spending.
According to Visa鈥檚 Travel Pulse: Eid Al-Adha Edition, international travel by Saudi residents rose by 25 percent compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was driven by a strong preference for shorter trips, with 69 percent of travelers from the Kingdom opting for brief weekend getaways. They also made 21 percent more purchases abroad and spent 13 percent more overall this Eid, reflecting a preference to maximize the holidays with quick trips abroad.
This Eid, international getaways became an opportunity for many Saudi travelers to indulge in retail experiences. Shopping led the way across all major destinations, influencing not just how people spent, but also where they chose to go.
鈥AE led as the top international destination, welcoming 14 percent of Saudi travelers and accounting for 23 percent of total international spend. With an average spend of $635 per card, fashion took center stage 鈥 seven of the top 10 merchants were in the shopping and apparel category. Among the top brands were Dubai Duty Free Stores, Hermes, and Cartier, reflecting both a preference for convenient airport shopping and a strong appetite for luxury. Dining and entertainment were also high on the agenda.
鈥ine percent of travelers went to Turkiye, making it the second most popular destination. It captured 15 percent of overall holiday spend with each visitor spending an average of $653 per card.
鈥hile the UK attracted a smaller share of travelers from 黑料社区 (6 percent) and overall spend (12 percent), it captured the highest spend per card at $839. This figure reflects the destination鈥檚 premium retail appeal, with shopping leading how Saudi visitors chose to spend.
Meanwhile, the Hajj season continued to play a meaningful role in 黑料社区鈥檚 economic landscape. Compared to the same period last year, the Kingdom saw a 7 percent increase in the number of foreign pilgrims, who made 16 percent more purchases during their stay. While overall spending grew by 4 percent, key shopping categories remained unchanged, including food, medicine, and other everyday needs, with smaller portions of spend going toward clothing and travel-related services.
鈥淲hether it鈥檚 a short break or a meaningful pilgrimage, having a simple and secure way to pay matters at every step of the journey,鈥 said Ali Bailoun, regional general manager for 黑料社区, Bahrain and Oman at Visa.聽
鈥淲e are proud to support that through our unique data insights and seamless, reliable payment solutions, and to contribute to the Kingdom鈥檚 Vision 2030 by helping create more connected, inclusive and seamless payment experiences across borders.鈥
For businesses and banks, Visa鈥檚 Travel Pulse offers unique insights to improve the payment experience for Saudi Visa cardholders traveling abroad or opting for local experiences.