InvestorEmpowering innovation for a sustainable future.
The startup scene across Saudi Arabia
Where startups are forming across Saudi Arabia: the cities, accelerators and investors, and how you get close to them.
The ecosystem
SVC/MAGNiTT reported $1.72 billion in Saudi venture capital funding across 257 transactions in calendar 2025, up 145% and 45%, respectively, year over year; the report says its data were reported as of January 5, 2026. Its definition includes companies backed by venture firms, corporate venture arms, accelerators, or verified disclosed angel investment, and excludes debt, other non-equity funding, lending, grants, and ICOs.
WIPO ranked Saudi Arabia 46th overall and 31st for innovation inputs in its 2025 Global Innovation Index, and classified it among high-income economies performing below expected innovation levels.
Sectors and strengths
Startup Genome reports 261 fintech companies in Saudi Arabia, year-over-year growth of 21%, and $2.1 billion in sector investment. These national figures appear on its Riyadh ecosystem page.
As of . Official information. Source: Riyadh
Hubs and regional differences
Startup Genome placed Riyadh third in its 2026 MENA comparison of 13 ecosystems and in the global #21–30 Emerging Ecosystem band. Its city profile reports $18 billion in ecosystem value for H2 2023 through 2025, defined as exits and startup valuations including active unicorns, and $5.1 billion in tech-startup VC funding for 2021–2025 across Seed, Series A, and Series B+ stages.
As of . Official information. Source: MENA's Startup Ecosystems Become Market of Capability; Riyadh
Capital providers
Argaam Weekend reported $860 million across 114 Saudi venture deals in H1 2025, with early-stage deals representing 89% of transactions, Series A 6%, and Series B 4%. It also reported that organized, trackable data on startup progression between financing stages was unavailable for its analysis.
As of . Official information. Source: For Saudi start-ups, Series A Should not be the Finish Line
For founders
Argaam’s reported H1 2025 deal mix was weighted toward early-stage transactions, while organized, trackable stage-transition data was unavailable for its analysis. Founders can use those figures as market context, not as a measure of an individual company’s likelihood of securing follow-on financing.
As of . Official information. Source: For Saudi start-ups, Series A Should not be the Finish Line
For investors
Riyadh’s reported city-level funding and ecosystem-value figures provide distinct measures, while published Saudi 2025 venture totals differ between SVC/MAGNiTT and Wamda. Investors should retain each source’s scope and period when using these figures in comparisons.
As of . Source: FY 2025 Saudi Arabia Venture Capital Report; 2025 Year in Review Investments in MENA; Riyadh
Constraints and recent changes
Wamda Research Lab attributed $5 billion and 211 deals to Saudi Arabia in 2025, while SVC/MAGNiTT reported $1.72 billion and 257 transactions for that year. The reviewed evidence does not establish a basis for reconciling the totals.
As of . Source: FY 2025 Saudi Arabia Venture Capital Report; 2025 Year in Review Investments in MENA
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Saudi Arabia ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 IMD World Competitiveness Ranking | 2026 | #13 | Up 3 | B | Competitiveness, Business Climate, Performance |
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (countries) | 2025 | #38 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
 Global Innovation Index | 2025 | #46 | Up 1 | A | Innovation, Competitiveness, Research, Talent |
 Bloomberg Innovation Index | 2019 | #56 | No prior edition | B | Innovation, Research |
 Doing Business (Ease of Doing Business ranking) | Doing Business 2020 | #62 | Up 30 | B | Business Climate |
278 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Saudi Arabia
Investors 149
Investor
InvestorDiversified investments supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
InvestorInvestment arm of Saudi National Bank.
The 3 most prominent of 149. Browse all investors
Venture studios 65
Venture studioVenture builder and investment management firm in Saudi Arabia.
Venture studioBuilding innovative logistics solutions.
Venture studioEmpowering startups through innovation and technology.
The 3 most prominent of 65. Browse all venture studios
Incubators 39
Incubator
IncubatorInvesting in innovative companies to create market value.
IncubatorEmpowering entrepreneurs for sustainable growth.
The 3 most prominent of 39. Browse all incubators
Accelerators 25
AcceleratorTech Horizons Ventures is an ecosystem enabler based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focused on supporting early-stage startups in the MENA region through…
AcceleratorFostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia.
AcceleratorLaunching a successful company every day.
The 3 most prominent of 25. Browse all accelerators
Based here, most-ranked first
Universities in Saudi Arabia
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Saudi Arabia
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in Saudi Arabia
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in Saudi Arabia
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingCity guides
Cities in Saudi Arabia
Questions about Saudi Arabia
How does Saudi Arabia rank as a startup ecosystem?
Its best position is #13 in IMD WCR (2026). It appears in 5 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in Saudi Arabia?
149 investors based in Saudi Arabia have a profile here, including Wa'ed Ventures, Haji Abdullah Alireza & Co. Ltd. and SNB Capital. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia has 25 accelerators, 39 incubators and 65 venture studios on record, including Tech Horizons Ventures, Trends GCC Co. and Raz.
Which universities are in Saudi Arabia?
2 universities have a profile: King AbdulAziz University and King Saud University.
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