Global Competitiveness ranking
Saudi Arabia at 17th — up 20 places
Ambitious Nation pillar2 sourcesLast verified 2026-05-18
Hero metric
IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook rank
17th
2025Saudi Arabia at 17th — up 20 places
Publishers include: Vision 2030 Office · Argaam
The Story
Before
In pre-Vision-2030 international rankings, Saudi Arabia sat in the high-30s on competitiveness indices.
Initiative
NCMS and supporting agencies executed a sustained program of regulatory reform, business-environment improvements, and competitiveness benchmarking.
Outcome
Saudi Arabia has risen to 17th globally in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook — a +20-place jump.
For citizens
A more competitive economy attracts investment, creates jobs, and rewards productivity. The ranking is an external scorecard on whether the reforms work.
Timeline of Milestones
2017
IMD rank: 36th
2025
IMD rank: 17th (+20 places)
Evidence library · 2 primary sources
Sorted by tier, newest first
Made-in-Saudi exports
A record SAR 624 billion in 2025
SAR 624B ($166B)
PIF: from sovereign fund to sector builder
Assets grew nearly 5× since 2016
SAR 3.41T
Global companies headquartered in Saudi
From 44 to 700+ in four years
700+
MENA's #1 venture market — Saudi startups, Saudi capital
$1.72B raised in 2025; +145% year on year; 257 deals (most in MENA)
$1.72B
Initiative attribution: NCMS competitiveness reforms; Doing Business reforms; regulatory streamlining. Citizen benefit category: National progress.