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RIYADH: Saudi travelers are increasingly relying on smart technologies, with 87 percent using generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to plan and manage their vacations, according to a survey. 

In its latest report, global consumer insights provider Toluna revealed that 46 percent of Saudi travelers are using AI assistants to discover activities, while 43 percent use them for translation purposes. 

These findings align with the broader trend observed in the Kingdom, where the number of people using AI tools is increasingly rising. 

In June, a report prepared by Google with UK-based research agency Public First showed that 80 percent of Saudi adults use AI tools, with one in three utilizing them regularly. 

This is nearly double the share of adults in the US who report using large language model-based chatbots, which stood at 52 percent according to a study by Elon University in North Carolina.

“AI is becoming a trusted travel companion, and not just among younger generations. From finding hidden gems and translating on the go, to getting activity suggestions, young Saudi travelers are making the most of AI to enhance every part of their journey,” said Georges Akkaoui, enterprise account director Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa at Toluna.

The survey said 43 percent of Saudi travelers use AI to find the best deals, while 31 percent rely on these technologies to optimize their itineraries, and 38 percent use them for restaurant suggestions. 

“What is interesting is that this (use of AI) is not limited to the tech-savvy; we are seeing notable adoption even among older travelers, with over 40 percent of 45–60-year-olds also using AI for deals, activities, and translation,” said Akkaoui. 

He added: “In fact, less than 15 percent of respondents are not using AI for their travels. This shows that generative AI is no longer niche, it is becoming mainstream, cross-generational, and it is already reshaping how people prepare for and experience their trips.” 

These findings also underscore the progress of AI adoption in ��������, with the technology emerging as a key component of the Kingdom’s post-oil economic development strategy. 

According to the Global AI Competitiveness Index released in January, the Kingdom ranked 15th globally in research output in the sector, having produced 29,639 AI-related publications.

This ranking places it among the top contributors to global research and highlights its emerging role as a regional technology leader.

��������’s Public Investment Fund, in partnership with Google, launched Project Transcendence in 2024, a $100 billion undertaking, as part of its efforts to advance the growth of AI.

The initiative is set to bolster the growth of local tech startups, generate employment opportunities, and foster collaborations with global technology firms, positioning the Kingdom at the forefront of regional innovation.

Traditional sources remain strong

Despite the significant adoption of AI tools in the travel sector, traditional information sources, along with influencers and online recommendations, continue to play an important role in shaping travel decisions among Saudi travelers.

The Toluna survey said 41 percent of the Kingdom’s travelers still rely on recommendations from family members and friends. 

Some 46 percent of Saudi travelers prioritize safety and security when selecting destinations, while 48 percent consider scenery as the decision-making factor. 

“Despite having access to more information than they can possibly digest, and probably because of that overload, many still turn to those they trust for inspiration, with family and friends remaining an important source of travel recommendations,” said Akkaoui. 

“At the same time, it is not surprising that, as with other aspects of their lives, younger travelers also rely on influencers and online recommendations for ideas and inspiration, showing how digital and personal guidance now shape the travel journey side by side,” he added.

Meanwhile, 47 percent of the respondents plan to travel internationally this summer, while 37 percent are opting for leisure trips within the Kingdom. 

Only 4 percent of respondents reported having no travel plans, highlighting a strong overall appetite for summer travel.

Underscoring the growth of domestic tourism in May, ��������’s Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the Kingdom is placing human-centered travel at the forefront of its tourism strategy, focusing on authentic cultural experiences, meaningful interactions, and community engagement. 

He added that this people-first approach is designed to balance the nation’s rapid infrastructure development with heritage preservation and stronger community connections. 

The National Tourism Strategy targets 150 million annual visitors by 2030, after surpassing the 100 million milestone ahead of schedule, with official data showing the Kingdom welcomed 116 million tourists in 2024, exceeding its annual target for the second consecutive year.

Turkiye, the most preferred destination

The survey found that 19 percent of Saudi travelers prefer Turkiye as their favorite destination to visit, followed by Egypt at 15 percent, the UAE at 14 percent, and the US at 10 percent. 

Additionally, 8 percent of respondents are heading to Switzerland, 7 percent to the UK, France, and Thailand, while 6 percent have chosen Italy as their summer destination.

“While Turkiye remains the top destination across all age groups, younger travelers show a stronger interest in long-haul and East Asian locations. For example, Japan appeals to 14 percent of 18–28-year-olds, compared to just 3 percent of those aged 29–44, and 0 percent among travelers aged 45–60,” said the report. 

In contrast, 14 percent of older travelers aged between 45 and 60 are planning a trip to the UK, a destination that sees less interest from younger respondents as a summer getaway. 

In terms of spending, most international travelers are willing to invest significantly in their summer experiences. 

The report also said 40 percent of Saudi travelers are planning to set aside more than SR10,000 ($2,666.39) per person on their trips, while 22 percent expect to spend between SR7,500 and SR10,000. 

Some 21 percent of the respondents are ready to spend between SR5,000 and SR7,500, while 15 percent are planning to budget between SR2,500 and SR5,000. 

The report further said that 40 percent of respondents regularly use eSIM cards while traveling, with 21 percent having tried it before and 20 percent expressing interest despite limited familiarity. 

“The evolving travel preferences of Saudi residents reflect broader global shifts toward more connected, experience-driven tourism,” said Akkaoui. 

“Whether it is the desire for natural beauty, the pursuit of cultural depth, or the appeal of cooler summer climates, today’s travelers from the Kingdom are more informed, digitally empowered, and adventurous than ever before,” he added. 

RIYADH: As �������� accelerates its transformation under Vision 2030, a critical question has emerged: Can the Kingdom build a homegrown tech workforce strong enough to power its digital ambitions?

From artificial intelligence and smart mobility to fintech and clean energy, the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding sectors are creating an unprecedented demand for highly skilled professionals. Yet despite billions in investments and major infrastructure rollouts, supply still lags behind demand.

This challenge, however, is far from ignored.

“We are proud to take human capital development to the next level,” said Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, during the launch of the National Skills Platform in April 2025. “Technical expertise alone is not enough. Leadership, strategic thinking, and adaptability are equally important, and skilling and reskilling for the workforce is a national priority that all stakeholders should engage in.”

The AI-powered platform connects Saudi job seekers to customized learning pathways, marking a shift toward demand-driven education and training.

A national priority

Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan, who also chairs the executive committee of the Human Capability Development Program, emphasized the broader purpose behind the Kingdom’s reforms.

“Vision 2030 is not just a roadmap for national transformation — it is a model for how investment in people can drive sustainable progress,” Al-Benyan wrote in an April op-ed for Arab News titled “Vision 2030: Elevating human capability in a changing world.”

Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, he noted that while 170 million new jobs will emerge globally by 2030, another 92 million will be displaced. He warned that 44 percent of core skills are set to change within five years, with digital and AI literacy becoming as fundamental as reading and math.

“Without these,” he wrote, “individuals are unable to participate meaningfully in today’s digital economy.”

Scaling up training and inclusion

This outlook is shaping some of ��������’s most ambitious workforce initiatives. Among them is the Waad National Training Campaign, launched in 2023 and supported by more than 70 organizations. The program surpassed 1 million training opportunities in its first phase and now targets 3 million by the end of 2025.

Waad’s Women’s Employment Track has been particularly successful, with a 92 percent retention rate in tech roles—contributing to a record rise in female participation across the digital economy.

Waad, Al-Rajhi noted, is an investment in “the promise of human potential.”

Meanwhile, the Future Skills Training Initiative, led by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology since 2020, has provided training to hundreds of thousands of Saudis in areas like cybersecurity, data science, and cloud computing. Supported by the Digital Skills Framework and private-sector partnerships, it has grown steadily.

One such partnership — a 2023 collaboration with IBM — aimed to train 100,000 Saudis in AI and machine learning.

Talent gaps persist

Despite this progress, a 2025 report by Nucamp and the ministry highlighted a 20 percent shortfall between tech job vacancies and qualified local talent. Critical roles such as AI engineers, cloud architects, and data analysts remain in short supply.

“Demand for AI and cloud experts far exceeds supply,” said Ahmed Helmy, managing director for SAP in the Middle East, in an April interview with Asharq Al-Awsat. The result: fierce competition among employers.

To meet short-term needs, �������� is tapping into international expertise. The Premium Residency Program, launched in 2021, allows skilled foreign professionals to live and work in the Kingdom without a local sponsor. By late 2023, more than 2,600 had taken advantage of the scheme.

In 2024, five new visa categories were introduced to attract investors, entrepreneurs, and tech specialists. These include provisions that exempt founders from Saudization quotas for their first three years—providing flexibility to scale teams while supporting local hiring in the long term.

“Such incentives allow skilled professionals to have a more stable life and make long-term investments in their careers in ��������,” said Raymond Khoury, partner at Arthur D. Little, in May.

Still, officials stress that international hiring is a stopgap — not a substitute.

“While attracting global talent is crucial, sustainable growth depends on balancing international expertise with local knowledge development,” said Mamdouh Al-Doubayan, MENA managing director at Globant.

To that end, foreign hires are increasingly being integrated not just as employees, but as mentors and trainers.

Startups adapt with remote models

In the private sector, startups are turning to remote hiring to bypass local talent shortages. A 2024 study by Wamda found that many Saudi companies are building distributed teams, sourcing tech talent from Egypt, Jordan, and other regional markets. This strategy shortens hiring cycles and enables around-the-clock operations.

The trend aligns with the Kingdom’s Telework Initiative, which certifies employers to offer remote roles to Saudis—especially women and those living outside major urban centers.

Competitive pressures from giga-projects

The hiring challenge became especially acute in 2023. That year, PwC’s Middle East Workforce Survey reported that 58 percent of Saudi firms struggled to fill key tech roles. A MAGNiTT report found that 65 percent of startup founders saw the shortage of senior tech talent as their top obstacle.

A concurrent survey by Flat6Labs noted that many startups were delaying product launches due to staffing shortages, losing talent to mega-projects offering 30 to 50 percent higher salaries.

“Engineers and product managers often defect to deep-pocketed giga-projects that offer salaries 30–50 percent above startup pay,” wrote venture adviser Aditya Ghosh in a November 2023 LinkedIn Pulse column.

Bridging the divide

Education leaders are working to close this gap. Khalid Al-Sabti, chairman of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, said in a 2024 Arab News interview that �������� is aligning its curriculum with global benchmarks.

“We must ensure our graduates meet international standards to compete globally,” he said.

This includes revising curricula, emphasizing hands-on projects, and embedding industry into the classroom through partnership programs. The Talent Enrichment Program, for example, spans 160 countries and offers global certifications to Saudi learners.

Encouragingly, ��������’s position in the IMD World Talent Ranking improved in 2023. Companies such as STC, Aramco Digital, and Elm are now hiring directly from local boot camps and training centers — evidence that education and industry are beginning to align.

The road ahead

Ultimately, the success of ��������’s tech talent strategy will be measured not just by enrollments or credentials, but by how effectively new graduates are absorbed into the workforce.

If current reforms continue at scale, the Kingdom may not only satisfy its domestic tech demand — but emerge as a regional hub for digital talent.

As Al-Benyan wrote: “By investing in people, fostering global collaboration, and redefining the future of work, �������� is demonstrating that human capability is the ultimate driver of progress.”