Visit Qatar to showcase tourism offerings at Saudi expo

A popular tourist attraction, Al-Thakira is among Qatar’s oldest and largest mangrove forests.
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Updated 08 February 2025
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Visit Qatar to showcase tourism offerings at Saudi expo

Visit Qatar is set to participate as a diamond sponsor at the Saudi Travel Market 2025, one of the region’s premier travel and tourism exhibitions. Taking place from Feb. 10-12, STM will feature more than 250 exhibitors from 30 countries and will serve as a key platform to position Qatar as a must-visit destination in Saudi Arabia.

During its participation, Visit Qatar will lead a diverse delegation consisting of key tourism stakeholders from Qatar, including Qatar Airways, Qatar Calendar, leading hotels, and destination management companies, all showcasing Qatar’s diverse offerings, from world-class hospitality and cultural experiences to bespoke travel packages.

With Saudi Arabia emerging as one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets, the event will also provide an opportunity for direct engagement with key Saudi Arabian stakeholders, travel agents, and tour operators, fostering long-term industry partnerships. Additionally, STM will also serve as a hub for global industry leaders to exchange insights and understand market trends, enhancing collaboration in the tourism sector.

During the event, Visit Qatar will showcase the country’s latest attractions, accommodations, and experiences, offering firsthand information to regional travel professionals.

Qatar, offering visa-free travel to 102 countries, welcomes visitors by land, air, and sea. With a short flight from neighboring countries, travelers can easily enjoy the best of Qatar’s tourism offerings, from luxurious resorts to a vibrant cultural scene — all within close proximity to Doha’s city center.

GCC travelers can also benefit from exclusive offers through the “Visit Qatar Pass,” available on the Visit Qatar mobile app. This pass provides discounts of 30 to 50 percent across a range of categories, including food and drink, beauty and spa, health and fitness, leisure and entertainment, hotel stays, and retail services.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.