Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global tourism destination through joint international marketing campaigns, data-driven insights, and technology-enabled visitor experiences.
The partnership will focus on attracting international travellers from key priority markets, supporting the Kingdom’s ambition of welcoming 150 million visitors annually by 2030 as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
Under the agreement, Mastercard will provide the Saudi Tourism Authority with advanced analytics and market intelligence to better understand visitor behaviour, travel patterns, spending trends, and the economic impact of major events. The collaboration will also leverage insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI), enabling STA to develop more targeted tourism campaigns through segmentation analysis, predictive analytics, and consumer behaviour research while supporting evidence-based policymaking.
The two organizations will also collaborate on thought leadership initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable tourism growth across the Kingdom.
As part of the partnership, Mastercard’s Priceless platform will showcase exclusive cultural, heritage, and lifestyle experiences across Saudi Arabia, helping international visitors discover the Kingdom’s diverse tourism offerings. The companies will also explore opportunities to enhance visitor engagement through technology-driven loyalty and rewards programmes.
The collaboration combines tourism expertise, data analytics, digital payments, and curated experiences to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem while supporting the country’s broader economic diversification goals.
“The collaboration between the Saudi Tourism Authority and Mastercard will help attract more visitors and promote Saudi Arabia’s destinations across priority markets in the GCC, the region, and internationally. This collaboration is part of our broader approach to building strategic partnerships with leading global partners, which continue to advance the STA’s objectives and support the wider Saudi tourism ecosystem in line with Vision 2030,” said Abdullah Aldakhil, Official Spokesperson for the Saudi Tourism Authority.
“At Mastercard, we see a powerful opportunity to redefine the future of tourism through innovation and collaboration. Saudi Arabia’s vision to build a sustainable and world-class tourism sector aligns closely with our mission to use technology and insights to unlock possibilities. By combining data-driven insights with authentic experiences, we are creating priceless experiences that fuel economic growth and showcase the Kingdom’s cultural vibrancy on a global stage,” said Saud Swar, Country Manager for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Other Levant at Mastercard.
The agreement reinforces Mastercard’s commitment to supporting the growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector through data, technology, and innovation, while enhancing visitor experiences and contributing to the Kingdom’s long-term economic transformation.
