JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has issued over 80,000 new commercial registrations in the second quarter of 2025, bringing the total number of active business records in the Kingdom to nearly 1.72 million, according to official data.

The surge in new businesses is primarily driven by high-growth industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, big data analytics, and also financial services, insurance, gaming, and entertainment.

These sectors are central to Saudi Vision 2030's economic diversification efforts, which aim to reduce the country's dependence on oil through private sector growth and widespread reforms under the National Transformation Program.

Infrastructure investments, digitalization initiatives, and regulatory improvements have been implemented to attract investment and foster entrepreneurship across the nation.

Commercial registration rectification has also been a focus, with Minister of Commerce Majed Al-Qasabi stating that these measures seek to combat commercial concealment and promote market transparency.

Riyadh remains the leader in new registrations, followed by Makkah, Eastern Province, Qassim, Asir, which is gaining prominence as an investment hub, recorded 3,875 new licenses.

The quarter also saw implementation of the Commercial Register Law and Trade Names Law, streamlining business operations with a single registration process nationwide, regardless of location.

Female entrepreneurship continues to rise, representing 49% of new registrations, while limited liability companies (LLCs) are the most common business structure.

Sectors experiencing strong growth include cloud data storage and analytics, AI, and franchising, with international investment also increasing by 38%, with a focus on non-residential construction and building development.

The number of active e-commerce records has grown to 39,366, reflecting the Kingdom's digitalization efforts, while gaming, leisure, and entertainment activities are gaining traction with additional licensing.