Saudi Arabiaβs Tourism Authority has published an updated regulatory framework for tourism service providers, covering four areas that affect travellers directly: licensed travel services, certified tour guides, hospitality provider standards, and tourist site conduct rules. The changes come into effect in October 2026 and are intended to standardise the experience quality that visitors receive across the Kingdomβs rapidly expanding tourism sector.
What Has Changed
The four areas of the updated regulations address a significant gap that has opened as Saudi tourism has scaled. Visitor numbers to the Kingdom have grown sharply since the tourist visa programme opened in 2019, and the government has acknowledged that regulation has not always kept pace with the volume of new operators entering the market.
Travel services licensing now requires all registered agencies selling Saudi inbound tourism packages to hold a current Tourism Authority licence, with annual renewal requirements. Unlicensed operators face fines and suspension of operations.
Tour guide certification has been tightened to require formal examination for guides working at heritage sites, including Diriyah, AlUla, Hegra, and the new archaeological parks in the Hail and Tabuk regions. English and Arabic language competency testing is included.
Hospitality standards updates set minimum response times and service benchmarks for hotels, tour operators, and transport providers working with international visitors β including resolution timescales for complaints.
Tourist site conduct rules have been clarified in writing for international visitors, covering photography restrictions at certain archaeological sites, dress standards in heritage zones, and behaviour guidance at religious sites open to non-Muslim visitors.
Practical Impact for Visitors
For travellers booking organised tours, the changes mean reputable operators should be easier to identify by 2027 once the licensing database is publicly accessible. For the moment, the Saudi Tourism Authority recommends checking operator credentials through the Visit Saudi portal before booking any guided experiences.
Our practical guide to Saudi Arabia covers entry requirements, visas, and current dress standards for international visitors. For itinerary ideas, our things to do section includes options across Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah, and the Red Sea coast. To book with established, certified operators directly, GetYourGuide lists licensed experiences across the Kingdom.