Saudi Arabia’s key service sectors expand in 2025 as number of hotels rises 31.6%

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s number of producing factories in industrial cities increased by 18.9 percent to 4,938 in 2025, compared with 2024, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The authority’s Services Statistics 2025 report showed that the factories were distributed across 36 industrial cities in the Kingdom. In the tourism sector, the number of hotels increased by 31.6 percent to 2,847, while the number of hotel rooms exceeded 491,000, representing a 23.4 percent increase compared with 2024. The number of serviced apartments reached 3,090, comprising more than 105,000 units, while travel and tourism agencies increased by 16.2 percent to 3,177. In air transport, the Kingdom recorded 29 airports, unchanged from 2024, while the total number of domestic and international flights exceeded 979,000, carrying approximately 141 million passengers. In education, the total number of schools increased by 1.9 percent to 32,000 in 2025. Girls’ schools accounted for 20,100, an increase of 3.1 percent, while boys’ schools totaled 11,900, declining by 0.1 percent compared with 2024. Public schools accounted for 24,200, including 9,100 boys’ schools and 15,000 girls’ schools, while private schools totaled 7,800, including 2,700 boys’ schools and 5,100 girls’ schools. In healthcare, the Kingdom recorded 292 government hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health and 63 government hospitals affiliated with other entities. The number of primary healthcare centers reached 2,177, with Riyadh recording the highest number at 406, followed by Makkah with 321 and Asir with 281. The Kingdom also recorded 515 Saudi Red Crescent ambulance centers.In banking services, the number of commercial bank branches increased by 0.3 percent to 1,910 in 2025. Riyadh recorded the highest number of branches at 585, followed by Makkah with 385 and the Eastern Province with 349. Meanwhile, the number of automated teller machines (ATMs) exceeded 14,000, declining by 2.7 percent compared with 2024. In social services, the number of social security offices and units declined by 14.2 percent to 91, while the number of social development centers remained unchanged at 39. According to GASTAT, the annual Services Statistics publication is based on administrative records provided by the relevant authorities and covers the availability of services across the Kingdom’s administrative regions, governorates and centers.