Medina vs Riyadh

Riyadh leads Medina by 3 points on the CIRA Index, 59 to 56. Medina grades better on 3 measures, Riyadh on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Medina 56, Riyadh 59
• OECD: Medina 55, Riyadh 60
• UN Tourism: Medina 51, Riyadh 51
• UNDRR: Medina 39, Riyadh 53

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Medina 92, Riyadh 85
• Economy and jobs: Medina 67, Riyadh 88
• Climate and hazards: Medina 40, Riyadh 50
• Water and environment: Medina 31, Riyadh 19
• Community and housing: Medina 63, Riyadh 67
• Access and continuity: Medina 38, Riyadh 50

Where Medina is stronger

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 75 % average annual occupancy (Almqr Development Company / Saudi Press Agency (SPA), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 85 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (WHO / UN-Habitat / UN-Water SDG 6 Data Portal & World Health Organization Data, 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Rent growth: 5.3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Consumer Price Index – December 2025, December 2024–December 2025). Between 3 and 6: 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.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Riyadh Municipality Portal / Saudi General Directorate of Civil Defense, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (GCC Tourism Ministerial Meeting / UN Tourism / Arabian Travel Market, 2026). Grade 1/4.

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

Medina in full · Riyadh in full

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