Najran Region's Business Registrations Surge 56% as Saudi Arabia Pushes Investment in Southern Province
Economic growth prospects highlighted at Najran Investment Forum 2025, showcasing potential for trade and investment opportunities.
Riyadh: The Najran region in Saudi Arabia has witnessed a significant increase of 56 percent in commercial registrations over the past five years.
This uptick signifies an expansion in economic activity and highlights the growth potential within the southern province under the country's broader Vision 2030 initiative.
According to data presented at the Najran Investment Forum 2025, the region now boasts 39,000 business licenses, representing approximately 2.3 percent of the kingdom's total of 1.7 million commercial records.
The two-day forum, which took place from June 25-26 under the patronage of Prince Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, brought together government officials and private sector leaders to discuss economic prospects in Najran.
Among the event's highlights were 53 project opportunities valued at more than SR639 million ($170 million), underscoring the potential for investment within the region.
With its abundant natural resources, fertile land, rich cultural heritage, and burgeoning logistics infrastructure, Najran is emerging as a pivotal gateway for trade and business in alignment with Saudi Arabia's economic diversification objectives.
Assistant Minister of Commerce Abdulaziz bin Saud Al-Duhaim emphasized Najran's strategic significance during the forum's opening session, citing its favorable geographical position, diverse natural resources, and competitive sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing industries, tourism, and others.
In a bid to enhance the business environment, more than 110 legislative measures have been reviewed and developed in recent years, including regulatory frameworks for companies, franchises, e-commerce, bankruptcy procedures, commercial registration processes, trade names, and other aspects of commerce.
The region's transportation sector saw the most substantial growth, with new registrations rising by 124 percent year-on-year to 536 in the first quarter.
This was closely followed by the logistics sector, which experienced a 111 percent increase, totaling 345 records.
Additionally, there were notable increases in civil protection equipment installation and maintenance (up 26 percent) as well as storage facilities (31 percent growth), reaching 717 records combined.
To bolster market regulation and consumer protection, Al-Duhaim announced the implementation of an electronic inspection system called 'Emtithal,' alongside a comprehensive consumer protection scheme that includes a reporting center and a summoning center.
Moreover, the National Competitiveness Center has collaborated with over 65 government agencies and the private sector to introduce more than 900 economic reforms aimed at improving business competitiveness.
Furthermore, 21 branches of the Saudi Business Center have been established throughout the kingdom to facilitate entrepreneurship and streamline business operations.
Strategies are currently being developed for the wholesale, retail, and professional services sectors, while leveraging new technologies to bolster the services sector.
During the forum, 14 cooperation agreements were signed between the Najran Chamber and various public and private entities in support of local initiatives and business development.
Abdullah bin Ali bin Mohammed Al-Ahmari, Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Planning and Development, highlighted Najran's mineral wealth, with untapped reserves valued at an estimated SR145 billion now exceeding SR227 billion.
He stressed the importance of developing manufacturing industries related to mining to maximize value addition and boost exports.
Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi, Assistant Minister of Investment, discussed the region's competitive advantages, noting opportunities in mining, specialized agriculture, tourism, and education sectors that require coordinated efforts among relevant authorities for their full potential to be unlocked.
He also pointed out that approximately SR8 billion worth of projects have been registered on the Invest in Saudi Arabia platform for Najran.
The forum aimed to showcase the region's economic prospects, attract quality investments, and provide a platform for interaction between local and international investors with government agencies.
Al-Duhaim emphasized the ministry's commitment to addressing business sector challenges through legislation development, procedure facilitation, and expanding financing programs that empower entrepreneurship and commercial enterprises.
This uptick signifies an expansion in economic activity and highlights the growth potential within the southern province under the country's broader Vision 2030 initiative.
According to data presented at the Najran Investment Forum 2025, the region now boasts 39,000 business licenses, representing approximately 2.3 percent of the kingdom's total of 1.7 million commercial records.
The two-day forum, which took place from June 25-26 under the patronage of Prince Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, brought together government officials and private sector leaders to discuss economic prospects in Najran.
Among the event's highlights were 53 project opportunities valued at more than SR639 million ($170 million), underscoring the potential for investment within the region.
With its abundant natural resources, fertile land, rich cultural heritage, and burgeoning logistics infrastructure, Najran is emerging as a pivotal gateway for trade and business in alignment with Saudi Arabia's economic diversification objectives.
Assistant Minister of Commerce Abdulaziz bin Saud Al-Duhaim emphasized Najran's strategic significance during the forum's opening session, citing its favorable geographical position, diverse natural resources, and competitive sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing industries, tourism, and others.
In a bid to enhance the business environment, more than 110 legislative measures have been reviewed and developed in recent years, including regulatory frameworks for companies, franchises, e-commerce, bankruptcy procedures, commercial registration processes, trade names, and other aspects of commerce.
The region's transportation sector saw the most substantial growth, with new registrations rising by 124 percent year-on-year to 536 in the first quarter.
This was closely followed by the logistics sector, which experienced a 111 percent increase, totaling 345 records.
Additionally, there were notable increases in civil protection equipment installation and maintenance (up 26 percent) as well as storage facilities (31 percent growth), reaching 717 records combined.
To bolster market regulation and consumer protection, Al-Duhaim announced the implementation of an electronic inspection system called 'Emtithal,' alongside a comprehensive consumer protection scheme that includes a reporting center and a summoning center.
Moreover, the National Competitiveness Center has collaborated with over 65 government agencies and the private sector to introduce more than 900 economic reforms aimed at improving business competitiveness.
Furthermore, 21 branches of the Saudi Business Center have been established throughout the kingdom to facilitate entrepreneurship and streamline business operations.
Strategies are currently being developed for the wholesale, retail, and professional services sectors, while leveraging new technologies to bolster the services sector.
During the forum, 14 cooperation agreements were signed between the Najran Chamber and various public and private entities in support of local initiatives and business development.
Abdullah bin Ali bin Mohammed Al-Ahmari, Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Planning and Development, highlighted Najran's mineral wealth, with untapped reserves valued at an estimated SR145 billion now exceeding SR227 billion.
He stressed the importance of developing manufacturing industries related to mining to maximize value addition and boost exports.
Abdullah Al-Dubaikhi, Assistant Minister of Investment, discussed the region's competitive advantages, noting opportunities in mining, specialized agriculture, tourism, and education sectors that require coordinated efforts among relevant authorities for their full potential to be unlocked.
He also pointed out that approximately SR8 billion worth of projects have been registered on the Invest in Saudi Arabia platform for Najran.
The forum aimed to showcase the region's economic prospects, attract quality investments, and provide a platform for interaction between local and international investors with government agencies.
Al-Duhaim emphasized the ministry's commitment to addressing business sector challenges through legislation development, procedure facilitation, and expanding financing programs that empower entrepreneurship and commercial enterprises.
