Saudi Arabia’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector is set to take centre stage at the inaugural WTM Spotlight Riyadh, as the Kingdom accelerates investments aimed at positioning itself among the world’s leading business events destinations under Vision 2030.
Scheduled to take place from 8-10 September 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center (RFECC), the event will bring together international planners, convention bureaux, hospitality brands, event organisers and corporate buyers to explore opportunities across Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving business events landscape.
According to Mordor Intelligence, Saudi Arabia’s MICE market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.82 per cent through 2031, reaching USD 5.65 billion. The growth is being driven by substantial investments in aviation, hospitality, exhibition venues and supporting infrastructure across key cities including Riyadh and Jeddah.
Government spending on business event venues in Riyadh and Jeddah reached USD 1.3 billion in 2023, while large-scale developments continue to add exhibition space, hotel inventory and airport capacity to meet rising delegate demand. The Saudi Tourism Society has also projected the wider MENA MICE industry to reach USD 100 billion by 2035, with Saudi Arabia ranked among the region’s top destinations for business events.
Danielle Curtis, Regional Portfolio Director – UAE, RX, commented: “Saudi Arabia’s MICE sector is entering a period of extraordinary growth. With market value projected to exceed USD 5.5 billion by 2031, business events are pivotal in accelerating tourism development, driving demand for premium hotels, and strengthening international partnerships.
“WTM Spotlight Riyadh provides a focused platform to showcase the Kingdom’s rapidly expanding event infrastructure and connect global planners with on-the-ground stakeholders.”
The event will also spotlight Saudi Arabia’s growing outbound MICE market as local companies increasingly seek international meetings, corporate travel programmes and incentive experiences aligned with business growth objectives.
Corporate planners in the Kingdom are moving towards more strategic and performance-driven incentive programmes, with destinations increasingly evaluated on accessibility, operational efficiency, hospitality standards and cultural experiences.
“Saudi Arabia’s outbound MICE sector is rapidly evolving, with corporate planners moving beyond traditional incentive travel towards more strategic, ROI-driven international programmes that support business growth and employee engagement,” said Curtis.
“WTM Spotlight Riyadh will offer direct access to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding MICE procurement pipeline, allowing global destinations, venues, and hospitality brands to connect with corporate buyers and decision-makers who are driving the Kingdom’s growing outbound meetings and incentive travel market,” she concluded.
The conference programme will examine how Saudi Arabia’s business events ecosystem can continue to mature and how the sector can generate long-term tourism and economic value under Vision 2030.
