Saudi Arabia’s business landscape has marked a new milestone as the number of active commercial registrations nears the two-million mark.
A Milestone for Business Growth
The Kingdom recorded 1.9 million active commercial registrations by the end of the second quarter of 2026, signaling a 12 percent increase compared with the same period last year. During each quarter, over 71,000 new commercial registrations were issued, reflecting the steady pace of business creation across the Kingdom.
The Kingdom’s total number of active commercial registrations reached 1,918,512 by the end of the quarter, including more than 1.28 million establishments and 638,000 companies.
Most registrations were principal businesses, while branch registrations accounted for a smaller share.
The Rise of Women and Young Entrepreneurs
The latest figures shine a spotlight on the pivotal role of women and young entrepreneurs in the Kingdom’s commercial sector. According to the report, women accounted for 46 percent of active commercial establishment registrations, while young entrepreneurs owned 38 percent.
Their strong presence was also shown in new business activity, with women owning 47 percent of the more than 71,000 commercial establishments registered during the quarter.
A New Era of Digital Business
High-growth sectors also continued to significantly broaden during the quarter. Active commercial registrations in artificial intelligence increased by 33 percent year on year to 22,591, while cloud computing registrations rose 42 percent to 6,802.
E-commerce also kept its strong growth, with active registrations hiking 23 percent to 48,497.
The report mentions that Saudi Arabia now secures a place among the world’s 10 fastest-growing e-commerce markets, highlighting the rapid pace of the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
A Growing Tourism Economy
Tourism-related businesses also demonstrated strong growth during the quarter. Active registrations for resorts grew 43 percent, while tourist guide activities increased by 38 percent.
Registrations for tour operators rose 33 percent, and travel agencies expanded by 32 percent. Hotel registrations climbed 38 percent to 26,801, while logistics services registrations recorded 25 percent to 29,856, backing the continued growth of the tourism sector.
Regional Business Hubs Thrive
Riyadh emerged as the Kingdom’s leading business destination, recording 666,108 active commercial registrations by the end of the quarter. Makkah followed with 397,029 registrations, while the Eastern Province saw 302,165 registrations.
Commercial activity also remained strong across the rest of the Kingdom, with more than 100,000 active registrations in Qassim and solid business growth across regions including Asir, Madinah, Jazan, Najran, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders and Al-Baha.
Related Topics:
Saudi Arabia’s Business Registrations Surge to 1.89M in Q1 2026
Saudi Arabia Surges as Mideast Business Hub with 34 New HQ Licenses
Saudi Business Center Offers Dual Commercial Licenses
