RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has secured top rankings in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2025-2026 report, reflecting a highly competitive environment and reinforcing its position as a premier hub for entrepreneurship.
The Kingdom led all high-income economies in entrepreneurial finance, highlighting the efficiency of its financing tools for small and medium-sized enterprises, known as SMEs. It also ranked third globally in the National Entrepreneurship Context Index, or NECI, cementing its status as an elite destination for entrepreneurial investment and growth.
Total early-stage entrepreneurial activity has seen rapid expansion, jumping from 12.1 percent in 2018 to 28.9 percent in 2025. Similarly, entrepreneurial intentions nearly doubled, rising from 26.8 percent to 48.5 percent over the same period.
This growth is mirrored in the academic sector, where the Kingdom climbed from 53rd to seventh place globally in university-based entrepreneurship.
These milestones are the result of integrated efforts between government entities like the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, known as Monsha'at, the private sector, and academic institutions.
