Riyadh Jumps 64 Places Globally in Startup Ecosystem 2025

By: Fahad Al-Talal

Riyadh has made a significant leap in the StartupBlink Global Startup Ecosystem Rankings for 2025, rising 64 places to rank 72nd globally, confirming its position as a strong incubator for business and innovation, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index.

The report showed that Riyadh also led global technology sectors, ranking 14th globally in transportation, 23rd in food technology, and 28th in both e-learning and digital marketing. It also recorded the highest annual growth rate among the top 100 global cities, at over 130%.

The report indicated that Jeddah entered the list of the top 10 cities in the Middle East after advancing four places, while Dammam continued its climb to rank 12th regionally, and Medina entered the list of the top 1,000 cities globally for the first time. The report indicated that government funding for the startup sector reached approximately $3.19 billion by 2024, with active participation from the Saudi Venture Capital Company, banks, and a number of investment firms such as Merak Capital and Shorooq Partners.

The report highlighted the extent of government support for the startup ecosystem within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, with billions of dollars being pumped into investment funds, venture capital initiatives, and public-private partnerships to accelerate the transition to a digital economy.

The report also highlighted the strategic role of the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), which launched qualitative initiatives, including the “Relocate” program to attract global technology companies and talent, and the “Tamkeen Accelerators” program to support local and global entrepreneurship programs. The program also partnered with the American accelerator Gener8tor to transfer best mentoring practices to the Saudi ecosystem. The report indicated that the Kingdom is expected to lead the e-commerce and retail sectors in the Middle East by 2025. It was ranked first globally in terms of technology ecosystem growth among the top 350 ecosystems, and second in the Arab world in terms of the development of the innovation ecosystem.

The report emphasized that this progress is the result of a series of qualitative initiatives and investments launched over a decade ago, including the establishment of specialized investment funds, the launch of national programs, and the organization of global technology events, in addition to developing the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The report indicated that the LEAP Conference, whose first edition was launched in 2022, has become a global platform attracting startups and investors from around the world, noting that it has contributed to strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a regional technology hub.

The report emphasized that Saudi Arabia today hosts the largest technology market in the Middle East and North Africa region and is building a broad base of local talent, with the increasing presence of women in the ICT and entrepreneurship markets, in light of empowerment policies and accelerating social transformations. The report concluded by highlighting the pivotal role of the LEAP technology conference, which has become a global platform that attracts more than 100,000 participants annually, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to accelerating the pace of innovation and stimulating the growth of the technology ecosystem and entrepreneurship.