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Saudi Aviation Sector Embraces Tech To Meet Vision 2030 Goals
The kingdom aims to become a global logistics hub and attract 100 million tourists by 2030.
Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a highly sought-after tourist destination, and in response to growing demand, the aviation industry requires year-on-year development on an increasingly large scale. As aviation is one of the most environmentally damaging sectors, mitigating harmful emissions is crucial to helping the Kingdom meet its ambitious Vision 2030 goals.
According to a recent report by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, developing modern, high-tech aviation technologies could enhance Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector and simultaneously meet the requirements of growing volumes of tourists.
Co-author of the report, Abdulrahman Alwosheel, noted that Saudi Arabia enjoys a “strategic geopolitical position” and is a key location that connects the Asia-Pacific region to Europe and America. Developing this logistics hub is a critical component of the Vision 2030 roadmap.
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The National Tourism Strategy of Saudi Arabia plans to attract 100 million visitors by 2030, which could account for up to 10% of the Kingdom’s GDP. Meeting these lofty goals will require significant infrastructure improvements, as well as large-scale investment in innovative new technology and a highly-skilled workforce.
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Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
The Kingdom’s creator economy grew over 32% in Q1 2025, fueled by TikTok, UGC, and cost-per-action (CPA) influencer models.
Saudi Arabia’s creator economy saw a significant 32.37% growth in the first quarter of 2025, driven by an uptick in influencer marketing, content-driven e-commerce, and the increasing influence of user-generated content (UGC). These insights come from a recent study by Admitad and the Stllr Network.
Much of this momentum is coming from video-based platforms, where brands are leaning on creators who feel more relatable than polished ad campaigns. The trend shows a clear preference for authenticity, as audiences gravitate toward content that feels real and personal.
Mohannad Alzahrani, Co-founder and VP KSA of Stllr Network, highlighted the shift: “The rise of user-generated content (UGC) is changing the way brands engage with consumers. Audiences trust real creators more than traditional advertising, making UGC a key driver of authenticity and sales”.
TikTok remains the dominant platform in this space, reportedly reaching 88% of the Saudi population. It also showed the sharpest rise in influencer-led transactions. Other platforms followed with solid, if less dramatic, growth: X was up 17%, Instagram increased by 12%, and Telegram by 10%.
In terms of content niches, beauty led the pack with a 56% growth rate, followed by lifestyle at 45.8% and fashion at 18.2%. Tech content also showed healthy traction at 10.6%, while entertainment, food, fitness, parenting, and gaming posted smaller — but still positive — gains.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025
The report analyzed more than 300,000 influencer-driven purchases. These efforts translated into a 15% year-on-year jump in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and a 5% increase in the number of orders in 2024. Influencers themselves are seeing the benefit, with average order values hitting $54 and creator earnings rising by 14%.
A noticeable trend is the move away from fixed-rate deals. More influencers in Saudi Arabia are embracing hybrid compensation models — especially cost-per-action (CPA) setups that tie their earnings directly to performance.
As Anna Gidirim, CEO of Admitad, explains, “The CPA model brings much-needed transparency to influencer marketing. Brands only pay for actual results, and influencers benefit by securing long-term partnerships while offering their audiences exclusive promo codes and special discounts”.
However, the ecosystem still shows a gender imbalance. The data indicates that 63% of creators in Saudi Arabia are men, while women account for just 37%.
Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
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