Fahd Hamidaddin

Spear’s Review

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler whom everyone calls MBS, is lavishing more than $100 billion on tourism and sport – one tenth of the kingdom’s total budget – for his Vision 2030 programme, which he hopes will diversify the economy and secure the country’s future in the post-oil era. 

Driving these ambitious plans to become a top global tourist destination is Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO of the Saudi Tourism Authority. Hamidaddin and his team are working at a rapid pace to reach an extraordinary benchmark: attracting 150 million visitors by 2030.

A number of projects are underway or nearing completion, including the Red Sea Global initiative, with a number of resorts planned for the islands off of the kingdom’s west coast and support from international hospitality heavyweights such as St. Regis, Six Senses and Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Arguably the best known is NEOM, ‘a visionary project that is set to transform the Red Sea coast of northwest Saudi Arabia into a futuristic city unlike any other’.

‘With every passing week, Saudi Arabia unveils something new, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to expanding its tourism landscape and enriching the visitor experience,’ Hamidaddin said in early 2024. ‘This relentless pace of development underscores the kingdom’s ambitious vision to transform into a leading global destination, offering a blend of heritage, luxury and innovation.’