Airbnb Market Analytics, Statistics and Data in Riyadh, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Last updated: 2025-01-31
Looking to make more money with hosting or rental arbitraging Airbnbs, short-term rentals, vacation rentals in Riyadh? AirROI have just the data insights! Over the last twelve months from February 2024 to January 2025, we've uncovered key trends and opportunities that successful hosts are leveraging in Riyadh:
How much do Airbnb hosts make on average per month in Riyadh?
The short-term rental market in Riyadh shows distinct revenue patterns across different property tiers. Our analysis reveals that successful properties combine strategic pricing with quality management to maximize earnings potential. Market data demonstrates clear revenue differentiation among properties:
- Typical properties (median) earn $1,499 per month
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) make $2,341 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) achieve $3,827+ monthly
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) typically earn around $812
Revenue Variations by Month
Occupancy Rates Throughout the Year in Riyadh
The market in Riyadh shows distinct occupancy patterns influenced by seasonal trends and local dynamics. Properties that maintain high guest satisfaction scores and implement strategic pricing consistently achieve stronger occupancy rates. Current market data shows:
- Typical properties (median) maintain 31% occupancy rates
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) achieve 58% or higher
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) reach 78%+occupancy
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) average around 14%
Occupancy Variations by Month
Average Daily Rates Seasonal Trends in Riyadh
Daily rates in Riyadh vary based on seasonality, property quality, and market dynamics. Properties that effectively balance competitive pricing with strong amenities typically command higher rates. Market analysis shows the following rate structure:
- Typical properties (median) generate $98 per night
- Strong performing properties (top 25%) secure $158 or more
- Best-in-class properties (top 10%) pull in $251+ per night
- Entry-level properties (bottom 25%) earn around $69
Daily Rate Variations by Month
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Seasonality patterns in Riyadh
Peak Season (June, March, May)
- Revenue peaks at $2654.91 per month
- Occupancy rates reach 49.09%
- Daily rates average $144.34
Shoulder Season
- Revenue averages $1887.26 per month
- Occupancy maintains 37.34%
- Daily rates hold at $133.75
Low Season (January, December, August)
- Revenue drops to $1184.08 per month
- Occupancy decreases to 29.56%
- Daily rates adjust to $122.57
Is it still profitable to do Airbnb in Riyadh in 2025?
Yes! Riyadh demonstrates highly seasonal trends requiring strategic adaptation, featuring a growing occupancy rate of 37% and solid monthly revenue averaging $1887 and As a mature market with 1506 active listings, there's strong demand despite the competition. There's also room for profit through rental arbitrage strategies, if you can identify competitively priced properties. To maximize your return on investment, consider employing the following strategies:
Peak Season Strategy
- Implement premium seasonal pricing strategies
- Set longer minimum stay requirements during high-demand periods
- Enforce stricter cancellation policies
Shoulder Season Strategy
- Maintain competitive market-based pricing
- Offer moderate-length stay incentives
- Target a mix of leisure and business travelers with flexible booking terms
- Focus on weekend getaway packages and mid-week business traveler promotions
Low Season Strategy
- Adjust pricing to remain competitive in the market
- Target different guest segments (business travelers, long-term stays, holiday visitors, event attendees, remote workers)
- Create targeted promotional campaigns to drive occupancy
Top Places to Start Airbnb in Riyadh
| Area | Why Choose This Area | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Al Olaya | Central business district of Riyadh known for shopping centers, office buildings, and hotels. A prime location for business travelers and tourists looking for convenience. | Kingdom Centre Tower, Al Faisaliyah Center, Riyadh Gallery Mall, Olaya Towers, Local restaurants and cafes |
| Al Malaz | Residential area close to the Riyadh Zoo and King Abdullah Park, popular among families and tourists seeking green spaces and recreational activities. | Riyadh Zoo, King Abdullah Park, Al Malaz Mall, Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium |
| Al Sulaimaniah | Known for its shopping streets and restaurants, this area is popular with locals and visitors. It offers a mix of traditional and modern attractions. | Al Sulaimaniah Shopping Center, Local eateries, Cafes and coffee shops, Cultural museums |
| The Diplomatic Quarter | Home to many embassies and international organizations, this area is upscale and secure, attracting expatriates and diplomats. | Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center, Green spaces and parks, Art galleries, Local cuisine options |
| Al Sadhan | A bustling area known for its markets and traditional souks. It's a cultural hub that attracts both tourists and locals. | Souk Al-Thumairi, Al Sadhan Center, Local handicrafts, Street food scene |
| King Abdulaziz Historical Center | A cultural and historical area showcasing Saudi heritage. Attracts history enthusiasts and families. | National Museum of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, Al Murabba Palace, Gardens and walk paths |
| Al Nakheel | A developing district with modern amenities and luxury apartments. Ideal for high-end travelers seeking comfort. | Al Nakheel Mall, Luxury hotels, Local dining options |
| Hareer Mall Area | Newly developed area with a large shopping mall and contemporary apartments. Suitable for tourists looking for modern conveniences. | Hareer Mall, Entertainment options, Dining and shopping experiences |
Do you need a license for Airbnb in Riyadh?
We recommend checking directly with Riyadh's local government regarding short-term rental licensing requirements. Current market data shows limited licensing information (27% of listings), making it essential to verify current regulations before starting your Airbnb business.
Top Performing Airbnb Properties in Riyadh
Inbar Risdins Modern Flat Apartment North of Riyadh
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Penthouse swimmingpool & Cinema
Entire Place • 2 bedrooms
Executive Two by Portal (Instant check-in)
Entire Place • 1 bedroom
Stylish Villa North Riyadh
Entire Place • 4 bedrooms
Heaven On Earth " 1 "
Entire Place • 3 bedrooms
Executive One by Portal (Instant check-in)
Entire Place • 1 bedroom
Top Performing Professional Hosts in Riyadh
| Host Name | Properties | Grossing Revenue | Stay Reviews | Avg Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sefaf | 47 | $912,966 | 4338 | 4.74/5.0 |
| Portal | 11 | $590,978 | 274 | 4.87/5.0 |
| Omar | 39 | $435,985 | 2556 | 4.73/5.0 |
| Amber | 12 | $415,416 | 259 | 4.16/5.0 |
| Aziz | 35 | $363,111 | 895 | 4.55/5.0 |
| Urban | 22 | $361,975 | 827 | 4.77/5.0 |
| Abdulaziz | 35 | $316,643 | 933 | 3.15/5.0 |
| Rakan | 25 | $313,569 | 402 | 4.89/5.0 |
| Olden | 4 | $287,346 | 190 | 4.61/5.0 |
| Masif | 13 | $250,312 | 254 | 4.54/5.0 |
Additional analytics on vacation rental, real estate, short term rental data in Riyadh
AirROI also have other key metrics and comprehensive data for your vacation rental, real estate needs. Go explore the advanced metrics that can help you make informed decisions:
Room Type Distribution
Property Type Distribution
Key Insights
- Market dominated by entire home listings (93.4%), with apartment & condo and house properties comprising 94.9% of inventory
- Untapped potential in boutique & hotels, outdoor & mobile, others, unique stays segments (5.1% combined)
Room Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 1,506 properties in Riyadh shows that 1 bedroom properties are most prevalent, making up 66.2% of the market. The market tends to favor smaller properties, with 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms together representing 85.7% of all listings.
Key Insights
- Most common: 1 bedroom (66.2%)
- Least common: 5+ bedrooms (0.3%)
- Market concentration: 85.7% in top 2 sizes
- Market skew: Favors smaller properties
Guest Capacity Distribution
Analysis of 1,506 properties in Riyadh reveals that 2 guests properties dominate the market, representing 35.7% of all listings. The average property accommodates 3.7 guests, with a clear trend towards larger guest capacities. Properties accommodating 2 guests and 4 guests make up 60.3% of the market.
Key Insights
- Most common capacity: 2 guests (35.7% of market)
- Least common capacity: 1 guest (1.5% of market)
- Average guest capacity: 3.7 guests per property
- Market concentration: 60.3% in top 2 capacity sizes
- Market segmentation: Predominantly larger guest capacities
Booking and Availability Patterns
Available Days Distribution
Booked Days Distribution
Among 1,506 properties in Riyadh, the most common availability pattern is 271-366 days (53.7% of properties). For actual bookings, properties most frequently secure bookings for 91-180 days (29.5% of properties).
Key Insights
- Most common availability window: 271-366 days (53.7%)
- Most common booking duration: 91-180 days (29.5%)
- Properties with high availability (180+ days): 83.6%
- Properties with long-term bookings (180+ days): 18.4%
Minimum Stay Distributions
1 Night
1187 listings
90.5% of total
2 Nights
53 listings
4% of total
3 Nights
12 listings
0.9% of total
4-6 Nights
23 listings
1.8% of total
7-29 Nights
17 listings
1.3% of total
30+ Nights
19 listings
1.4% of total
Key Insights
- Short stays (1-2 nights) dominate the market at 94.5%
- Mid-length stays (4-6 nights) represent 1.8% of listings
- Monthly+ stays (1.4%) suggest a stable extended-stay market
- High market flexibility with 95.4% accepting 3 nights or less
Recommendations
- Set minimum stays between 2-3 nights to align with market standards
- Adjust minimum stays seasonally based on demand patterns
- Implement different minimum stays for weekends vs. weekdays
Cancellation Policy Distribution
Flexible
670 listings
69.3% of total
Moderate
167 listings
17.3% of total
Firm
31 listings
3.2% of total
Strict
99 listings
10.2% of total
Key Insights
- Flexible is the preferred policy at 69.3% of listings
- Guest-friendly policies (Flexible & Moderate) dominate at 86.6% of the market
- Strong market consensus around Flexible policies
- Firm policies are least common at 3.2% of listings
Recommendations
- Consider starting with a Flexible policy to align with market preferences
- Strong market preference for Flexible policies suggests this should be your baseline
- Consider generous cancellation terms as a competitive advantage
- Strict policies are rare - carefully consider the impact on bookings before implementing
Booking Lead Time Trends
Key Insights
- Peak booking lead times occur in Nov, Oct, Feb, averaging 19 days
- Shortest booking windows are in Jun, Jul, Aug, averaging 11 days
- Fall shows the longest average booking window at 18 days, while Summer has the shortest at 11 days
Recommendations
- Implement dynamic pricing strategies for Fall bookings at least 18 days in advance
- Consider early bird discounts during Summer to encourage longer lead times
- Focus on last-minute booking promotions during Jun-Aug when lead times are shortest
Popular Airbnb Amenities in Riyadh
Below is the distribution of amenities across listings in Riyadh:
Traveler Demographics
Key Insights
- Domestic travelers make up 78.1% of total guests, indicating a dominant local market share.
- Primary international markets: United States (5.7%) and United Kingdom (3%)
- Arabic is the top language at 50.1%, followed by English (45.6%)
- Notable demographic segment in <=1950s (Pre-1950s (Silent Gen)) at 2.2%
Recommendations
- Target marketing campaigns for Riyadh and Jeddah markets
- Develop localized content for United States and United Kingdom
- Prioritize Arabic and English language support
- Tailor experiences for Pre-1950s (Silent Gen) while maintaining broad age appeal
- Implement seasonal promotions aligned with key market travel patterns
Nearby Markets
Explore short-term rental performance in markets surrounding Riyadh. These nearby markets offer diverse opportunities for property investors and hosts:
| Market | Properties | Monthly Revenue | Daily Rate | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality of Olaya | 733 | $1,190 | $113.62 | 36% |
| Al Maathar Municipality | 227 | $1,124 | $141.10 | 39% |
| Municipality of Al Shamal | 3,073 | $1,101 | $128.21 | 33% |
| Shmeisi Municipality | 20 | $961 | $295.38 | 31% |
| الرياض | 41 | $889 | $114.09 | 35% |
| Municipalty of Irqah | 144 | $852 | $105.77 | 35% |
| Al-Urayja Municipality | 94 | $776 | $95.39 | 30% |
| Al Malaz | 156 | $764 | $94.27 | 33% |
| Ad Dir`iyah | 92 | $752 | $101.73 | 29% |
| As Sali Municipality | 26 | $535 | $108.82 | 34% |
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