Saudi Tourism Chief Hamidaddin to Leave Role as Kingdom Rewrites Its Tourism Ambitions

Key Points

• Fahd Hamidaddin is leaving his role as CEO of Saudi Arabia's Tourism Authority after seven years, with Abdullah Al Hagbani stepping in as acting CEO.
• Saudi Arabia has shifted its Vision 2030 tourism strategy from rapid growth to sustained value creation, scaling back mega-projects and construction commitments.
• Despite surpassing visitor targets, most were domestic or religious tourists, and key giga-projects like NEOM and The Line faced delays and financial setbacks.

Summary

Fahd Hamidaddin is stepping down as CEO of Saudi Arabia's Tourism Authority after seven years, with Abdullah Al Hagbani named acting CEO. The leadership change comes amid significant revisions to Saudi tourism plans, as the country pivots from aggressive expansion under Vision 2030 to a focus on sustainable value creation. While the country exceeded its visitor targets—mainly through domestic and religious tourism—major projects like NEOM and The Line have faced delays and scaled-back ambitions due to lower-than-expected Western tourism and financial write-downs.