Riyadh – Exclusive Sharikat Mubasher: Abeer Al-Zaaied, Founder and CEO of Hyyak for Leisure, Travel & Tourism, said the company is working to redefine the tourism experience in Saudi Arabia through a locally rooted identity, by operating at the intersection of property technology and tourism through a suite of digital products.
At the core of its offerings is the Hyyak platform, an online marketplace that connects service providers within the sharing economy, including licensed accommodation options and guesthouses across Saudi Arabia, as well as community-led experiences and activities that reflect Saudi culture in an authentic way.
Speaking to Sharikat Mubasher on the sidelines of the DeveGo 2025 Forum, Al-Zaaied explained that the platform primarily targets international visitors seeking a deeper understanding of Saudi culture. This is achieved by enabling tourists to stay with Saudi families and local hosts, while participating in genuine cultural experiences that showcase everyday Saudi life.
She noted that Hyyak serves two main customer segments: tourists and guests on one hand, and hosts across different regions of the Kingdom on the other. Hosts include owners of various types of daily rental units, as well as cultural experience providers capable of transforming their skills and activities into marketable tourism services.
Al-Zaaied added that the company previously participated in an international incubation program in South Korea, alongside other Saudi startups contributing to the goals of Vision 2030 in the tourism sector. The program resulted in the signing of several international agreements with companies in Asian markets.
She concluded that this step marks the beginning of Hyyak’s growth and expansion into new markets, while also enabling the company to benefit from global expertise and advanced technologies to further develop Saudi Arabia’s tourism ecosystem.
The Social Development Bank has launched the second edition of DeveGo 2025 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh. The event runs from 21 to 23 December, under the patronage of the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of SDB’s Board of Directors, Ahmed bin Sulaiman Alrajhi.