Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with women emerging as a formidable force in the nation’s economic diversification efforts. According to the latest Business Sector Bulletin from the Ministry of Commerce, women-owned businesses accounted for a remarkable 49% of the more than 128,000 new commercial registrations issued in the third quarter of 2025, signaling a major milestone in female economic empowerment and participation.
A New Wave of Female and Youth Entrepreneurship
The data for Q3 2025 reveals a vibrant and increasingly inclusive business ecosystem. Alongside the near-parity in registrations by women, young entrepreneurs also made a significant impact, representing 51% of all new commercial registrations. This dual surge of female and youth-led enterprise brings the total number of commercial registrations across the Kingdom to over 1.7 million, underscoring the success of initiatives aimed at fostering a dynamic private sector in line with Vision 2030.
Sector and Regional Breakdown
Riyadh continues to be the primary hub for commercial activity, leading the regions with approximately 50,000 new registrations. The capital was followed by the Eastern Province with over 21,500 and the Makkah region with 19,400 registrations. The construction sector dominated the new business landscape, comprising 39% of the total with over 67,000 registrations. Other leading sectors included wholesale and retail trade (25,000), manufacturing industries (22,000), and accommodation and restaurant services (12,700), reflecting broad-based growth across the economy.
Long-Term Growth and Vision 2030 Alignment
The Q3 figures are part of a larger growth trend over the past five years, which has seen the total number of establishments in the Kingdom increase by 21% to over 1.2 million. The growth in more sophisticated business structures is particularly notable, with limited liability companies (LLCs) seeing a 158% jump in registrations. The bulletin also highlighted significant growth in promising sectors central to Vision 2030, including electronic game development, augmented reality technologies, logistics services, and e-commerce, indicating a strategic shift towards a knowledge-based and digitally-driven economy.
About The Ministry of Commerce
The Ministry of Commerce in Saudi Arabia is the government body responsible for regulating and developing the Kingdom’s commercial and investment sectors. Its mandate includes issuing commercial registrations, protecting consumer rights, creating a fair competitive environment, and fostering the growth of the private sector to achieve the economic development goals outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.
Source: Zawya
