The first youth hostels were established by the General Presidency for Youth Welfare in 1969 (1388/89 AH). In this undertaking the Presidency had two objectives:
- to develop and support the youth hostel movement in the Kingdom
- to increase young people's knowledge of all the Kingdom's regions by encouraging them to travel within the Kingdom and to broaden their knowledge of other countries by utilizing youth hostel facilities abroad.
The Kingdom's youth hostels boast modern swimming pools, theaters and areas for hobbies and light games, as well as sleeping accommodation.
There are approximately 20 youth hostels currently in operation in the Kingdom.
