Mecca vs Riyadh

Mecca leads Riyadh by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 60 to 59. Mecca grades better on 7 measures, Riyadh on 4; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Mecca 60, Riyadh 59
• OECD: Mecca 66, Riyadh 60
• UN Tourism: Mecca 64, Riyadh 51
• UNDRR: Mecca 69, Riyadh 53

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Mecca 80, Riyadh 85
• Economy and jobs: Mecca 75, Riyadh 88
• Climate and hazards: Mecca 40, Riyadh 50
• Water and environment: Mecca 50, Riyadh 19
• Community and housing: Mecca 75, Riyadh 67
• Access and continuity: Mecca 71, Riyadh 50

Where Mecca is stronger

• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (UN-Habitat & Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MoMRA), Future Saudi Cities Programme - CPI Profile Makkah, 2017). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 511 kg per resident per year (PLOS One, Biodiesel production potential from fat fraction of municipal waste in Makkah, 2014–2024). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Green space: 17.1 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (region figure) (Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification via Arab News, 2023). Between 10 and 20: grade 1/4.
• Rent growth: 4.4 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Consumer Price Index, June 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Saudi Civil Defence / National Early Warning Platform, 2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah / Preprints - Mass Gathering Medicine and Crisis Management Review, 2024–2025). Grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (Saudi Tourism Development Fund (TDF) / Saudi Ministry of Tourism, 2020-2026). Grade 3/4.

Where Riyadh is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 85.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, Tourism Statistics in Saudi Arabia | Annual Statistical Report 2024, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 2 % of the labour force (region figure) (Ministry of Economy and Planning (DataSaudi) / GASTAT Labor Force Survey, Q1 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) & Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Saudi Arabia: #29 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Saudi Arabia: #29 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Mecca in full · Riyadh in full

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