Saudi Arabia’s Non-Profit Sector Surpasses SAR 100 Billion in Economic Contribution

For the first time in its history, Saudi Arabia’s non-profit sector has exceeded SAR 100 billion in economic contribution, accounting for 3.3% of the Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Prospects for the Non-Profit Sector 2025 report by the King Khalid Foundation.

The report highlighted key contributions within the sector: Awqaf accounted for SAR 48 billion, according to the General Authority for Awqaf, while non-profit organizations contributed SAR 47 billion in spending, based on data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Additionally, volunteering added an estimated SAR 5 billion in economic value, while cooperative societies contributed SAR 2 billion, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

The sector’s rapid growth is on track to achieve the Vision 2030 target of reaching 5% of GDP two years ahead of schedule.

Education and research organizations led the sector in revenue generation, surpassing SAR 19 billion, while health organizations recorded the highest spending at SAR 15 billion, driven by the conversion of government assets in health and education into non-profit entities. Meanwhile, organizations focused on culture, entertainment, and social services reported the highest employment rates.

The report also examined funding sources, emphasizing the role of government support and digital donation platforms, which collectively raised over SAR 15 billion in 2024. The National Platform for Charitable Work (Ehsan) saw a significant contribution from small donors (SAR 1, SAR 10, and SAR 100), while major philanthropists (donations of SAR 100,000 or more) accounted for 26% of total contributions.

On the community level, engagement in the non-profit sector remained strong, with 23% of Saudi citizens participating in volunteer work and 47% making donations in 2024.