The Saudi Ministry of Commerce, in its latest report on the objectives of Vision 2030, revealed rapid growth and positive indicators in several promising economic sectors. The report explained that this growth reflects the success of strategic plans to diversify the economic base, driven by a significant increase in the number of existing commercial registrations in vital sectors such as modern technologies, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy, in addition to the entertainment and tourism sectors.
General context: Vision 2030 as a roadmap for the future
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 was launched in 2016 as an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming the Saudi economy and reducing its dependence on oil as the primary source of income. The Vision is based on three main pillars: a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation. Since its launch, the government has implemented a series of legislative and regulatory reforms to improve the business environment, streamline procedures for starting and operating businesses, and attract local and foreign investment—the fruits of which are becoming increasingly evident in sectoral growth reports.
Record growth in the technology and digital economy sectors
According to the data, activities related to artificial intelligence technologies witnessed a significant surge, with the number of commercial registrations reaching 19,042 in 2025 compared to 14,163 in 2024. Cybersecurity activities also saw growth, reaching 9,766 registrations compared to 7,689 during the same period. This expansion reflects the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening and securing its digital infrastructure and adopting the latest technologies to support the knowledge economy. In a related development, the number of e-commerce registrations rose to 43,854, underscoring the increasing shift towards digital channels in conducting business and meeting consumer demands.
The booming entertainment and tourism sectors
The entertainment and tourism sectors are among the most important pillars of Vision 2030 for improving quality of life and diversifying income sources. The report showed remarkable growth in this area, with amusement park and game center registrations rising to 8,376 and entertainment event facility registrations reaching 10,402. In the tourism sector, the number of tour operator registrations jumped to 10,665 in 2025, compared to 6,476 in 2024, clearly indicating the expansion of tourism activity and increased private sector participation in providing diverse tourism services targeting visitors from both inside and outside the Kingdom.
Economic importance and impact
These indicators confirm that the economic diversification strategy is on the right track. Domestically, this growth is contributing to the creation of thousands of new jobs for Saudi youth and supporting entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Regionally, these figures reinforce the Kingdom's position as a leading economic hub in the Middle East and an attractive destination for investment in non-oil sectors. Internationally, they send a strong message to investors worldwide that the Saudi market is promising and open, with a stable and growth-friendly regulatory environment, thus supporting the goals of Vision 2030 in building a strong and sustainable economy for future generations.
