The question
How many hotel rooms are actually occupied in each region? How much does a guest pay per night on average? And does the picture differ between summer and the rest of the year?
The figure
According to the tourism hospitality statistics in GASTAT’s database, 49.1% of hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia were occupied in Q3 2025 (Muharram – Rabi' al-Akhir 1447 AH), against 46.1% in Q3 2024 (Dhu al-Hijjah 1445 – Rabi' al-Awwal 1446 AH), a rise of 3.0 points.
The average paid per night for an occupied hotel room was SAR 341, against 354 a year earlier. In serviced apartments occupancy was 57.4% and the rate SAR 208. Hotels in Saudi Arabia had 464,672 rooms available in this quarter.
This is the latest quarter published when we retrieved the data on 30 September 2026 (19 Rabi' al-Akhir 1448 AH).
Regions
Hotel occupancy rose over the year in 7 of 13 regions. In 11 regions, serviced-apartment occupancy was higher than hotel occupancy.
- Highest occupancy: Madinah 68.9%, Riyadh 58.1% and Asir 54.1%.
- Lowest occupancy: Hail 32.3% and Tabuk 38.4%.
- Highest room rate: Riyadh SAR 645, and Tabuk 560. Lowest: Najran SAR 190, and Northern Borders 193.
Hotel occupancy and room rate in each region
Hotels in Q3 2025 (Muharram – Rabi' al-Akhir 1447 AH), highest occupancy first, with the same quarter a year earlier.
| Region | Hotel occupancy | A year earlier (2024) | Room rate per night (SAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 49.1% | 46.1% | 341 |
| Madinah | 68.9% | 60.6% | 298 |
| Riyadh | 58.1% | 59.0% | 645 |
| Asir | 54.1% | 53.1% | 440 |
| Eastern Province | 52.6% | 51.6% | 389 |
| Northern Borders | 49.6% | 45.5% | 193 |
| Al-Baha | 48.1% | 46.8% | 462 |
| Najran | 45.8% | 47.2% | 190 |
| Qassim | 43.0% | 43.3% | 387 |
| Makkah | 42.8% | 38.8% | 294 |
| Jazan | 41.3% | 43.2% | 259 |
| Al-Jouf | 41.0% | 38.3% | 271 |
| Tabuk | 38.4% | 47.7% | 560 |
| Hail | 32.3% | 37.9% | 326 |
Serviced apartments against hotels
| Region | Serviced-apartment occupancy | Hotel occupancy | Apartment rate (SAR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 57.4% | 49.1% | 208 |
| Madinah | 49.8% | 68.9% | 191 |
| Riyadh | 65.9% | 58.1% | 237 |
| Asir | 54.4% | 54.1% | 209 |
| Eastern Province | 54.0% | 52.6% | 185 |
| Northern Borders | 42.1% | 49.6% | 144 |
| Al-Baha | 52.5% | 48.1% | 222 |
| Najran | 62.7% | 45.8% | 95 |
| Qassim | 54.7% | 43.0% | 148 |
| Makkah | 55.7% | 42.8% | 222 |
| Jazan | 49.6% | 41.3% | 202 |
| Al-Jouf | 51.4% | 41.0% | 129 |
| Tabuk | 47.7% | 38.4% | 157 |
| Hail | 55.5% | 32.3% | 166 |
Why does the national figure differ from the regions?
Makkah alone has 72.1% of the hotel rooms available in Saudi Arabia, and with Madinah 86.3%. So the national figure follows these two regions: hotel occupancy in Makkah was 42.8% this quarter, against 38.8% a year earlier.
The season changes the picture: in Asir, 29.6% in Q1 2025 (Rajab – Shawwal 1446 AH), then 54.1% in the third quarter; and in Al-Baha, 24.0% then 48.1%.
What this means for your decision
This describes the sector in the region; it is not a judgement on the performance of any particular hotel.
- For those running a hotel or serviced apartments: their region’s occupancy and rate in the same quarter last year are the closest measure of what is around them, not the national figure.
- For the owner of a restaurant or shop near hotels: occupancy describes the number of guests around them and changes with the season; in Asir and Al-Baha it nearly doubles in summer.
- For researchers: occupancy and rate together describe demand for accommodation; one rising while the other falls means something different from both rising together.
An analytical reading, not financial advice; the decision and its responsibility are yours.
Limits of the figure
- This is the latest quarter published in the database, so the figures do not describe recent months.
- Occupancy is the share of available rooms that were occupied, and the rate is the average paid per night for an occupied room, not the advertised price.
- Licensed establishments only, as GASTAT publishes them.
- The average hides differences within a region between one city and another, and between hotel categories.
- The summer quarter differs from the rest of the year, so we compare each quarter with the same quarter a year earlier.
Source: General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Saudi Arabia, the official source of the original data. DataPulse organised the data and made calculations on it (such as percentage changes and regrouping). This processing and its results are ours; they are not an official statistic issued by GASTAT and do not imply its endorsement. Reuse terms: GASTAT data use policy. We do not use GASTAT’s logo or marks.
The source statement in Arabic (the Arabic text governs; the English above is a summary)
المصدر: الهيئة العامة للإحصاء (المملكة العربية السعودية) — إحصاءات مرافق الضيافة السياحية (الفنادق والشقق المخدومة) حسب المنطقة الإدارية، ربعي، وهي المصدر الرسمي للبيانات الأصلية. أجرت «نبض البيانات» على البيانات تنظيمًا وحسابًا (مثل: حساب نسب التغيّر وإعادة التجميع). هذه المعالجة والنتائج من إعدادنا وليست إحصاءً رسميًا صادرًا عن الهيئة، ولا تعني تزكية منها.
شروط إعادة الاستخدام: سياسة استخدام بيانات الهيئة. لا نستخدم شعار الهيئة ولا علاماتها.
Full official figures: Tourism pulse by region · Tourism and hospitality: the official figures · All insights(Arabic)
Translated from the Arabic reading; the Arabic text is the original. The original reading(Arabic)