Timeline of the Formation of the Ministry of Tourism in Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the entity responsible for enacting legislation, laws, and regulations to develop and promote the tourism sector in the Kingdom, along with issuing licenses and classifications related to tourism activities and projects. It also provides an investment environment to attract quality investments and creates job opportunities in the tourism sector. The establishment of the ministry went through several stages as follows:

The regulation of tourism work began in the Kingdom by establishing the Supreme Commission for Tourism.

A Royal Decree was issued to merge the Antiquities Agency into the Supreme Commission for Tourism, making it responsible for everything related to the antiquities sector along with the tourism sector.

A decision was issued by the Council of Ministers to change the name of the Supreme Commission for Tourism to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities.

The Council of Ministers approved changing the name from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.

A Royal Decree was issued to transform the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage into a ministry named the Ministry of Tourism.