Saudi Private Sector Urged to Reveal Challenges

One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Private Sector Urged to Reveal Challenges

One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
One of the branches of the Saudi Business Center concerned with facilitating procedures for starting businesses in Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi authorities have called on the local private sector to report challenges facing companies and institutions in the Saudi market.

Since the launch of Vision 2030, the Saudi government has been seeking to identify and address the difficulties facing the private sector to enable it to play a vital role in advancing the national economy.

According to information available to Asharq Al-Awsat, Aug. 10 was set as the deadline for receiving reports on the obstacles facing local companies and institutions.

The Saudi government is launching many economic reforms, including amending legislation and regulations for a better business environment in the Kingdom.

These reforms have contributed to raising the quality, efficiency and digitization of government services provided to the private sector, in addition to the establishment of many programs, initiatives, financing funds, business incubators and accelerators.

The government is working to accelerate the pace of the private sector business and raise its contribution to the GDP to 65 percent by 2030.

The Federation of Saudi Chambers periodically assesses obstacles facing the private sector, through meetings and workshops that are aimed at facilitating communication with government agencies.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ensures the integration and coordination of efforts between its programs and government agencies to raise the quality of services available to companies and institutions, facilitate the business environment and promote unexploited economic sectors, in addition to attracting foreign investments.



Saudi Finance Minister: 2025 Budget Aims to Continue Expanding Strategic Spending

Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Finance Minister: 2025 Budget Aims to Continue Expanding Strategic Spending

Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Al-Jadaan speaking at the press conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan outlined the objectives of the 2025 budget, emphasizing a continued focus on strategic spending for developmental projects aligned with sectoral strategies and Vision 2030 programs.
He added that the budget aims to support initiatives that deliver sustainable economic, social, and environmental benefits, while enhancing the business environment, improving the Kingdom’s trade balance, and increasing both the volume and quality of local and foreign investments.
Speaking at a press conference following the Cabinet’s approval of the budget, Al-Jadaan highlighted the government’s commitment to expansionary spending due to its positive impact on citizens. He noted that Saudi Arabia’s economy has become more resilient to fluctuations in oil markets, reflecting ongoing structural changes.
The non-oil economy is projected to grow by 3.7% by the end of 2024, he said, with non-oil activities contributing 52% to GDP during the first half of the current year.
The minister also revealed that since the launch of Vision 2030, non-oil revenues have increased by 154%. Oil’s share of GDP currently stands at 28%, and the nominal GDP has reached SAR 4.1 trillion, he remarked.

Moreover, Al-Jadaan said that private investment’s contribution to GDP has grown from 16% in 2016 to 24.7% today. The industrial sector is set to attract SAR 30 billion ($8 billion) in investments in 2025, alongside SAR 12.3 billion ($3.2 billion) in credit facilities to support Saudi exporters. Tourism has also emerged as a significant driver of economic growth, ranking as the second-largest contributor to the balance of payments after oil.
The Saudi minister emphasized the encouraging economic indicators, noting the surge in small and medium-sized enterprises driven by government spending. He reiterated the government’s cautious and conservative approach to budget preparation, reflected in revenue figures.
Structural changes in the Kingdom’s economy are beginning to yield tangible results, with a 33% increase in spending on strategies and programs aimed at achieving Vision 2030, according to Al-Jadaan. These efforts are expected to sustain economic growth, foster diversification, and further strengthen the Kingdom’s global economic standing, he stated.