The industrial landscape of Saudi Arabia has seen a notable expansion, with a 10% rise in the number of operational factories during 2023. By the year’s end, the total count stood at 11,549 factories. This growth is accompanied by the issuing of 1,379 new industrial licenses, which brought in investments totaling SAR81 billion. Additionally, 1,058 new factories commenced production, with investments amounting to SAR45 billion.
Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources spokesperson, Jarrah Al-Jarrah, highlighted that these new licenses spanned across 25 industrial sectors. The cumulative investments for all 11,549 factories reached an estimated SAR1,541 trillion. The manufacturing sector, specifically food products, non-metallic mineral products, metal product forming, and rubber and plastic products, were among the most active areas.
The majority of industrial licenses were granted to national establishments, with a count of 1,043. Foreign investment-backed entities received 194 licenses, followed by joint investment ventures with 142 licenses. When it comes to business sizes, small establishments led the way with 1,203 licenses, medium-sized entities received 158, micro-enterprises were issued 15, and large establishments secured three licenses.
Region-wise, the Riyadh Region was at the forefront, obtaining 479 licenses. The Eastern Region followed with 340 licenses, the Makkah Region with 269, the Qassim Region with 87, and the Madinah Region with 79 licenses.
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources diligently provides monthly updates on key industrial indicators via the National Industrial and Mining Information Center. These reports offer insights into the industrial sector’s dynamics, changes, and the inflow of new investments into the Kingdom’s industrial and mining sectors.