Why now is the time to bring your startup to Saudi Arabia

If your tech startup is eyeing international expansion, now is the time to explore Saudi Arabia as your next opportunity. Over the last few years the nation has transformed into a dynamic tech ecosystem, powered by Vision 2030 ambitions and major public investment. And that transformation is far from over; the government is continuing to cultivate an environment that enables startups to thrive. 

According to Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report, in 2025 Riyadh was ranked 23rd among the top 100 emerging startup ecosystems – that’s a leap of 60 places in just three years. This reflects an acceleration driven by thriving venture‑capital activity, improved infrastructure and a pro‑startup policy environment.

Saudi Arabia also recorded the highest growth rate among the top 100 countries in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, and has been recognised as the fastest-growing tech hub in the GCC region. 

At LEAP 2025, US semiconductor startup Groq announced it had secured a USD $1.5 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to expand the delivery of its advanced AI chips to the country; and overall at the event, the country secured $14.9 billion in new AI investments. These are big numbers – and they’re a signal to startups that your innovation is welcome. 

LEAP contributes to strong deal flow 

We’ll welcome over 2,000 investors to Riyadh at LEAP 2026, representing $22.2 trillion in assets under management. The environment is designed to enable connections to grow and drive strong deal flow. 

Founder Walid Sultan Midani (Founder of Bravvo) said it like this after coming to LEAP 2025: 

“LEAP last year made us curious about KSA. LEAP this year made us confident and willing to make the leap into Saudi.” 

This represents the mood – curiosity that turns into confidence, and confidence that turns into action. 

Strategic public-sector support drives startup success 

The Vision  2030 is the country’s economic roadmap. With £22 billion allocated to digital and IT budgets alone, plus mega-projects underway (think NEOM and Qiddiya), Saudi Arabia is actively building the ecosystems that global innovators really need. 

You’ll find grants, accelerators, and streamlined legislation for incoming international startups. And open-data platforms offering public APIs and datasets make R&D and localisation far easier. 

The country’s population is also ready for growth; standing at roughly 37 million, with a booming digital‑native segment increasingly engaged online. Youth unemployment is just 2.8% (Q1 2025), which signals an increasingly skilled workforce and growing appetite for digital commerce. 

Four key steps to enter the Saudi Arabia market 

1. Start with LEAP or local pitch events. Attend or exhibit to meet local VCs, corporate funders and regional leads – and for maximum reach, apply to our Startup and Scaleup program.
2. Understand local culture and regulation. Partner with regional consultancies to navigate Saudi commercial law and Saudisation mandates.
3. Connect via accelerators. Programs like the Business Accelerators run by Monsha’at support international founders with mentorship, licensing and co‑working hubs.
4. Pilot with government bodies. SDAIA’s open data policies and GovTech sandbox schemes help you test real use‑cases quickly.

Do your research before you commit 

We know Saudi Arabia offers everything tech startups need to thrive and scale. But we also know that good business decisions are based on solid research – and we encourage you to do just that. 

Remember Midani’s journey – from curiosity at LEAP 2024, to being ready to commit after LEAP 2025. We’re seeing more and more founders use LEAP as a way to test the waters and explore potential opportunities in Saudi Arabia; because the knowledge, expertise and inspiration available at the event allows you to develop ideas, validate them, and secure funding. 

Join us at LEAP 2026 to explore potential opportunities for your startup in Saudi Arabia.