From the 2027 Asian Cup to Expo 2030: Digital App Opportunities in Saudi Tourism & Events

In short: Saudi Arabia is preparing for an unprecedented run of global events: the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, alongside a target of 150 million tourist visits by 2030. This momentum is creating huge demand for apps and digital solutions in tourism, hospitality, events, and transport.

Millions of incoming visitors will book, travel, pay, and look for experiences on their phones — and many of them don't speak Arabic. Businesses that prepare their digital experience now will be well placed to capture this demand, while those who wait will pay for it.

Sectors with a big digital opportunity

• Hotels and serviced apartments: direct booking, digital check-in, and smart keys that reduce reliance on intermediary platforms.
• Restaurants and cafés: pre-orders, multilingual digital menus, and loyalty programs.
• Events and entertainment: digital tickets, interactive maps, and real-time notifications for crowds.
• Transport and mobility: booking cars, tours, and intercity travel.
• Retail: stores that serve foreign visitors in their own language, currency, and payment method.

What do visitors expect from your digital experience?

• Multiple languages: Arabic and English at minimum, ideally more depending on your target markets.
• Global payments: support for international cards and digital wallets alongside Mada.
• Speed and reliability: systems that handle peak demand on match days and major events.
• Smart service: an assistant that answers in the visitor's language around the clock.
• Maps and location: accurate directions and recommendations close to where the user is.

Prepare your systems for peak times

The biggest risk at major events is a system crashing at the most important moment. Scalable cloud infrastructure and load testing before the event are the difference between a record sales day and a reputation crisis.

Start now, not a few weeks before the event

Building, testing, and refining a reliable app takes months, and the 2027 Asian Cup is just around the corner. Starting early gives you time to test the experience with real users and improve it before the wave of visitors arrives.

Storm Apps builds multilingual, scalable booking and event apps and platforms designed to serve millions of visitors. Contact us to get your business ready for the Kingdom's season of global events.