Saudi Arabia has recorded a significant achievement in the entrepreneurship space, with its capital Riyadh jumping 60 positions over the past three years to rank 23rd in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome, in collaboration with the Global Entrepreneurship Network.

This remarkable progress reflects the Kingdom’s rapid growth in the startup sector, driven by advancements in venture capital, improvements in startup infrastructure, and increasing innovation and investment in emerging technologies. These gains come in part due to strong support from government entities such as Monsha’at, the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, which plays a key role in fostering a thriving startup ecosystem through targeted initiatives, regulatory enhancements, and programs designed to help startups grow and scale, all in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The report ranked Saudi Arabia second in startup ecosystem performance across the MENA region and third globally in terms of funding relative to impact. It also placed fourth in talent availability and expertise, reinforcing the Kingdom’s ability to attract and retain top entrepreneurial talent.

Promising sectors that contributed to this progress include artificial intelligence, fintech, cybersecurity, smart cities, infrastructure, and digital health, all of which are core to the Kingdom’s economic transformation agenda.

The findings are based on data analysis from over 5 million startups across more than 350 ecosystems worldwide, highlighting global trends and policies that drive innovation and entrepreneurship success.