Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The variety of international startups licensed underneath Saudi Arabia’s “Riyadi” initiative has reached 550 as of mid-2025, marking a 118% improve in comparison with the identical interval final yr, in response to the Ministry of Funding.
This surge comes as a part of nationwide efforts to place the Kingdom as a regional hub for entrepreneurship by facilitating worldwide startup entry and creating a versatile regulatory surroundings that fosters innovation and attracts funding.
The Normal Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at) has additionally issued 364 licenses for enterprise incubators and accelerators throughout the nation.
These entities have performed an important function in attracting worldwide entrepreneurs and supporting their progress journey — from early prototyping and mentorship to investor and market entry — enabling them to launch successfully within the Saudi market.
Flagship worldwide occasions hosted within the Kingdom, similar to Biban and LEAP, have additional drawn international founders by showcasing Saudi Arabia’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and funding alternatives.
Moreover, the energetic participation of Saudi stakeholders in international boards like Net Summit, Vivatech, and Slush has enhanced worldwide networking and promoted the Kingdom as a gorgeous vacation spot for startup exercise.
The “Riyadi” license (Startup Funding Registration) is without doubt one of the Ministry of Funding’s key initiatives, designed to empower worldwide and native entrepreneurs to ascertain ventures simply with companions from all over the world. The initiative helps Saudi Arabia’s broader targets of financial diversification, innovation, and embedding a tradition of entrepreneurship.