Prime Highlight
- Saudi Arabia recorded strong business growth in 2025, driven by Vision 2030-linked sectors such as technology, tourism, and digital services.
- A sharp rise in new company formations highlights expanding entrepreneurship and economic diversification beyond oil.
Key Facts
- The Ministry of Commerce issued over 486,000 commercial registries in 2025, taking total active records to more than 1.8 million.
- Company registrations rose 20% year-on-year to 192,000, with artificial intelligence-related activities showing the fastest growth at 34%.
Background
Saudi Arabia recorded strong growth in business activity during 2025, supported by sectors linked to Vision 2030, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce. The Kingdom registered a sharp rise in new company formations as investment expanded across technology, tourism, and digital services.
The ministry said it issued more than 486,000 commercial registries for companies and establishments during the year. This brought the total number of active commercial records in the Kingdom to over 1.8 million, showing steady growth in entrepreneurship and the private sector.
The number of company registrations grew 20% compared to last year, with 192,000 new firms registered in 2025. Officials said the rise shows how economic diversification plans are creating space for new industries beyond oil.
Several priority sectors recorded sharp increases in activity. Registrations linked to artificial intelligence technologies jumped 34% to 19,042, marking the highest growth among all tracked categories. Travel and tourism organising activities also saw strong demand, with registrations rising 31% to 10,665, as the Kingdom works to become a global tourism hub.
Virtual and augmented reality technologies grew by 29% to 11,725 registrations, showing strong interest in immersive tools for education, entertainment, and training. Cybersecurity activity grew by 27% to 9,766, highlighting a greater focus on digital safety.
The electronic games manufacturing sector matched this pace with a 27% increase to 841 registries. Vehicle charging station operations rose by 26% to 4,313 as electric mobility gained momentum.
Leisure-related businesses also advanced. Amusement and theme park activities increased 20% to 8,376 registries, supported by large-scale entertainment projects under Vision 2030.
The e-commerce sector continued to grow, though at a slower pace, with a 9% rise to 43,854 registries.
The ministry said the figures confirm that Saudi Arabia’s reform agenda is reshaping the business landscape and helping new sectors emerge as engines of long-term growth.
