Investor Business Services Transferred to the Saudi Business Center

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Investor Business Services Transferred to the Saudi Business Center

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government has stopped referring investors to its unified national platform after transferring all the Kingdom’s services to the Saudi Business Center (SBC). The shift comes to ease procedures for starting and conducting business for enterprises that intend to enter the Saudi market.

In 2019, the Saudi Cabinet approved the transfer of all documents, property, financial credits, obligations, and rights of the unified national platform to the SBC.

Economic business sector services will be provided to the beneficiaries through the centers of the SBC and its unified e-platform.

The center is concerned with facilitating the procedures for starting, practicing, and concluding economic works and providing all services in accordance with international best practices. It has 12 branches in ten cities across the Kingdom.

The SBC aims to make the Kingdom one of the ten leading countries in the world in the quality, smoothness and efficiency of services directed to the business sector.

It also looks to create an attractive environment that enhances the Kingdom’s competitiveness and encourages investment and growth through government services under a unified institutional interface.

Raising productivity of companies operating in Saudi Arabia through reducing time and costs is also one of the SBC’s objectives.

The center seeks achieving this by improving the quality of policies, investing in big data, and issuing specialized studies and reports.

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) had announced the completion of connectivity to the SBC utilizing the “Tanfeeth” program.

The solution aims at optimizing system connectivity and integration between Saudi government entities and banks operating in the Kingdom with a view to promoting automation of processes and acceleration of workflows to realize Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

SAMA highlighted that the “Tanfeeth” program seeks to promote operational efficiency by overcoming procedural hurdles in coordination with government entities.

It is also a step towards achieving the strategic objectives of SAMA by upgrading its IT infrastructure and optimizing administrative processes including speed, quality, and integration with the financial institutions operating in the Kingdom.



Saudi Arabia Boosts Food Security

An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Boosts Food Security

An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to strengthen food security, a strategic objective rooted in the Kingdom’s founding and shaped by its desert geography and limited water resources.

As part of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom has placed food security among its top priorities, implementing a national strategy to boost local production and promote long-term agricultural sustainability.

The agricultural sector’s contribution to GDP rose to SAR114 billion ($30.4 billion) in 2024, up from SAR109 billion ($29 billion) the previous year, according to the latest Vision 2030 annual report.

Government support, particularly through the Agricultural Development Fund, has fueled the sector’s growth. Agricultural loans increased by 54% between 2018 and 2024, reaching SAR5 billion ($1.33 billion).

Saudi Arabia has achieved higher self-sufficiency rates across several key products. Domestic production in 2024 included 2.95 million tons of fruit, 3.38 million tons of vegetables, 1.83 million tons of grains, 399,000 tons of eggs, 2.7 million tons of milk, 274,000 tons of red meat, 1.15 million tons of poultry, 217,000 tons of fish, and 8,500 tons of honey.

Aquaculture has seen significant growth, with fish production rising from 40,000 tons in 2016 to over 246,000 tons in 2024, driven by investments in sustainable technologies and marine projects. Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as an emerging regional hub for aquaculture.

The Kingdom’s progress reflects its long-term commitment to food security, supported by initiatives to enhance supply chains, stimulate private sector investment, and advance research and innovation in modern farming technologies. Authorities say the achievements so far signal Saudi Arabia’s ability to continue advancing toward self-sufficiency in a more resilient and sustainable agricultural environment.