Saudi Arabia issues 188 new industrial licenses, 78 factories begin production in March

13/05/2026 04:06 AST

Saudi Arabia issued 188 new industrial licenses in March, with total investments linked to the new permits exceeding SR1.81 billion ($482 million), according to a government body.

A report released by the National Center for Industrial and Mining Information said these projects - building on the 221 awarded in February - are expected to create more than 1,721 job opportunities across various regions of the Kingdom.

Some 78 new factories commenced production in March, following on from with 112 in the previous month, according to the release.

The activity aligns with Saudi Arabia's National Industrial Strategy, which aims to boost manufacturing gross domestic product to SR895 billion, double sector employment to 2.1 million, and raise non-oil exports to SR557 billion by 2030.

The momentum also supports the strategy's broader goal of increasing the number of factories in the Kingdom to 36,000 by 2035.

The newly released report said that the value of investments in the factories that began production during March reached SR870 million, "with job opportunities estimated at 1,492 new jobs, reflecting the continued expansion of the industrial base in the Kingdom and the increasing pace of factories entering actual operation."

Factory activity accelerated in 2025, with 1,201 facilities beginning operations, an 11.7 percent increase compared with 2024. The projects attracted more than SR31 billion in investments and created over 45,000 jobs as Saudi Arabia continued expanding its manufacturing base.

Saudi Arabia's industrial momentum has been further bolstered by the second phase of the standardized industrial incentives program, launched in June.

Offering direct grants of up to SR50 million or 35 percent of total investment, the program targets factories producing critical goods that are currently imported.

Having already attracted over 1,000 investors, the initiative reflects the Kingdom's push to drive high-value investments into priority sectors and strengthen local manufacturing capabilities.

Arab News