Saudi Arabia ranked third globally in the 2025 National Entrepreneurship Context Index, according to a report cited by Al Eqtisadiah, as early-stage entrepreneurial activity in the Kingdom continues to expand.
Early-stage activity reached 28.9%, up from 12% in 2018. The share of Saudis expressing interest in starting a business also rose to 48.5%, compared with 26.8% seven years earlier.
The growth has been linked to improvements in the regulatory environment, broader financing pathways and the expansion of incubator and accelerator programs across emerging sectors.
The entertainment industry offers several examples of this activity. The General Entertainment Authority has supported programs designed to develop promising ideas and help them reach the market.
Istajer evolved from a traditional rental platform into a service for the events industry by connecting equipment providers with organisers. Mila brought event-planning services together in one platform, while Black Wax grew from a startup into an events company involved in major festivals and experiences that attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors.
Esma Li, which began as an audio-focused idea, expanded into hospitality and entertainment services and reached 150,000 users after winning an entertainment innovation award.
These companies reflect how locally focused solutions are creating new businesses and contributing to a more diverse Saudi entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Source: Jawlah
