Abha | August 20, 2025

The 26th edition of Abha Shopping Festival marks a key stop in the Asir Summer 2025 season, successfully drawing visitors and vacationers from across the Kingdom’s regions and Gulf countries, as well as residents, cementing its position as one of the region’s most prominent economic and tourism festivals.

The festival is held at the International Exhibition Center in Abha, comprising five main shopping halls offering a wide range of products including household items, clothing, perfumes, sweets and family needs, helping to energize the retail sector and support local businesses and shops.

The festival’s role is not limited to commerce; it also serves as an effective tool for promoting tourism in Asir region, giving visitors a combined experience of shopping, artistic and folkloric events, cultural evenings, entertainment shows and an amusement park, offering a comprehensive experience that boosts the region’s appeal as a prominent tourism destination.

The festival also offers dedicated training programs for Asir’s young men and women, aimed at developing their skills and expertise in line with job market needs, making it both an economic and developmental platform.

Data from the Abha Chamber of Commerce and Industry shows notable growth in turnout for shopping and entertainment festivals in recent years, with domestic trips to Asir for business purposes rising 143% and for leisure purposes by 33% during 2023 compared to the previous year, reflecting the direct impact of these festivals on boosting domestic tourism and supporting the local economy.