This is How Saudi is Shaping the Future of Luxury Travel for Indians, Reveals a Saudi Tourism Authority Insider
Meshaal Qureshi, trade markets senior director at the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), reflects on how the destination is quietly transforming from a pilgrimage heartland to an elevated, experiential luxury holiday choice.
Nov 28, 2025
Once seen through the narrow lens of pilgrimage, Saudi is now revealing itself as one of the most dynamic luxury destinations that stirs the senses and sparks wanderlust. With immersive culture, hyper-modern infrastructure, and an expanding luxury landscape, Saudi is no longer simply offering a visit; it is inviting travellers for curated experiences.
This vision came alive recently as Saudi Arabia’s national tourism board returned with Spectacular Saudi, a three-day multi-city showcase from November 21 to 23, across 5 cities, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. Following its Mumbai debut last year, the event featured engaging activities like Ardah dance performances, Arabic calligraphy workshops, and serving Saudi coffee and dates, bringing the destination’s culture to Indian audiences.
Meshaal Qureshi, the trade markets senior director at STA, unpacks how Saudi is redefining its tourism identity for the luxury traveller.
RR: What defines Saudi’s luxury landscape today, and what can the Indian luxury traveller expect from Saudi?
MQ: Luxury, for us, is not just about opulence, but about comfort, familiarity, and experience.
It spans from the Red Sea’s ultra-exclusive resorts like Shebara, Desert Rock, and Six Senses, to Jeddah and Riyadh, welcoming global hospitality names such as Atlantis, One&Only, Rixos, Jumeirah, and Royal Mirage.
This shift is also accompanied by thoughtful India readiness, Indian restaurants, Hindi-speaking guides, Jain and vegetarian dining options, even at five-star properties.
Beyond hotels, the experiences also define luxury: helicopter rides over AlUla, hot air ballooning across Dadan, private yachting in Jeddah, Formula 1, LIV Golf, and the cultural spectacles of Riyadh Season.
RRI: What are the highlights of Riyadh Season this year? Anything specific for luxury travellers?
MQ: Riyadh Season remains the largest entertainment festival in the city, spanning the next four to five months. It brings together an extraordinary calendar of events under a single umbrella — from football matches, e-sports tournaments, Wrestlemania, kickboxing and UFC fights, table tennis slams, and live golf events happening in January and February.
Think of Riyadh Season as a 360-degree celebration of entertainment, sports, culture, and luxury. Every experience is connected, complementing campaigns like Spectacular Saudi in India. International icons like CR7 tie in perfectly, creating a seamless narrative that highlights both the festival and Saudi as a destination that caters to every type of traveller, including the luxury segment.
RR: As tourism grows, how is Saudi ensuring that development remains sustainable and culturally authentic?
MQ: Sustainability is integral to our vision. Saudi seamlessly blends modernity with heritage; towering skylines sit minutes away from UNESCO-listed sites like Diriyah and Jeddah’s Al-Balad. We preserve while we progress.
In the Red Sea, for instance, upcoming developments are entirely self-sustaining. Hotels operate on renewable energy; transport is electric, and airport infrastructure relies on natural light. Al Ula employs nearly 60% of its workforce locally, reinforcing community-led tourism.
Culturally, we celebrate our diversity, 13 regions, each with its own folk dances, weaves, dialects, and traditions. From Sadu weaving to culinary evolution, Saudi’s identity is preserved, not diluted, and this authenticity is precisely what today’s luxury traveller seeks.
RRI: Which destinations would you recommend to Indian luxury travellers?
MQ: The Red Sea for its untouched natural drama and ultra-luxury resorts, AlUla for its archaeological splendour and immersive heritage, and Riyadh for its electrifying entertainment landscape, especially with Qiddiya, a city dedicated to play, opening with exclusive India-focused experiences.
From private islands and yacht charters to curated cultural trails and world-class dining, Saudi today offers a multi-dimensional luxury narrative. It is a destination where every journey feels bespoke, and every experience tells a story.
A land of contrasts where heritage meets hyper-modernity, and every moment is designed with intent, Saudi is no longer just on the travel map; it is shaping where the future of travel goes next.