Ecosystem Highlights
28 posts
Saudi Arabia Rises 40% in Global Intellectual Property Index 2025
Executive Summary: Saudi Arabia Eyes Top 20 by 2028 Saudi Arabia is significantly improving its global standing in the Intellectual Property (IP) field, achieving a breakthrough in the 2025 Global Intellectual Property Index. It ranks among the top countries regarding recent gains within the top 25 global economies listed in the index. The Kingdom has recorded a 17.5% increase in its overall grade, underscoring its commitment to strengthening its IP infrastructure and fostering an innovative environment, in alignment with its […]
Lenskart: Gaining First-Mover Advantage in the Saudi Eyewear Market
Saudi Arabia offers the largest consumer market in the Gulf region, with a population exceeding 32 million. A rapidly expanding economy, paired with population growth and a subsequent rise in consumer demand, lays a sturdy foundation for the growth of the retail and e-commerce markets. The retail sector, in particular, is a significant economic construct, forecast to be worth SAR159 billion ($42 billion) in 2024, with its share of non-oil GDP at 22.8% in the third quarter of 2022. Vision […]
Saudi Technology Sector: Opportunities for Businesses
Worldwide, businesses, especially in the Saudi technology sector, are facing an increasingly challenging operating environment. Companies are rethinking their strategies to improve agility, meet sustainability goals, and reduce costs. For many, the response to these pressures is to explore new geographies. Backed by a growing economy and buoyant investment sentiment, Saudi Arabia has emerged as an obvious choice for entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses in the tech industry looking to start or expand operations, thanks to the country’s strong emphasis on […]
Yellow Door Energy: Powering Saudi Arabia’s Energy Sector
In the midst of a global shift to sustainable energy and a greener future, Saudi Arabia is committed to accelerating this shift towards clean energy and achieving net zero goals as part of its Vision 2030 roadmap. One of the companies from our expansion network, Yellow Door Energy, founded in 2015 by Jeremy Crane, has become a vital player in the global renewable energy and clean technology sectors, sitting on a growing portfolio of projects and a solid investment plan. […]
600 Forward: Celebrating Milestones, Growing Impact
The Kingdom is increasingly viewed as a global go-to destination for businesses and professionals from all walks of life, changing the way industries operate and charting the Kingdom’s next chapter of growth. At AstroLabs, we recently celebrated a milestone of expanding 600 companies to the Saudi market over the past five years. On this occasion, we hosted the “600 Forward” event at our Riyadh office earlier this month, with “Drivers of Saudi Arabia’s Sectoral Growth” as its main theme. During […]
A Look at Kitopi’s Saudi Expansion Journey and the Growing Foodtech Space
There’s always a first mover in every sector—that one player that comes in to challenge operating models and disrupt all existing equations in the market. The advantage of being an early mover in embracing technology in the cloud kitchen space has never been so starkly apparent as it is in the case of Kitopi. The foodtech innovator has been on a buoyant upward growth trajectory since the launch of its services in 2018, having grown its network of partner restaurants […]
Nomad Homes: Harnessing Innovation and Perseverance in the Gulf’s Proptech
The Gulf is witnessing an extraordinary surge in proptech initiatives, which is redefining the traditional real estate landscape to a more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly framework. This past decade, we have seen this sector mature from its nascent phase of digitized listings to its current zenith, powered by emerging technologies including AI and VR. Within this rapidly expanding sector in the Gulf, proptech pioneers like Nomad Homes are embracing disruptive technologies that give them an edge in the global real […]
Konn Technologies: Pioneering Proptech in Saudi Arabia
Coupling technology with real estate, Proptech is becoming one of the driving forces of growth in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. The Saudi government’s visionary plans to develop smart cities, and reach a 70% rate of homeownership for Saudis in the Kingdom has singled out Proptech as a key sector for growth and development. Saudi closed the year with two ground-breaking announcements in Saudi; the hosting of FIFA 2034 and the Riyadh Expo 2030. As the nation gears up […]
The 2023 Wrap-Up: Saudi Leads Innovation in the Gulf
Looking back at 2023, we sum up some of the major announcements that served as opportunities for transforming economies and sectors in the Gulf. The year resonated with unparalleled strides, fostering a narrative of thriving innovation and accelerated growth within the region, especially in Saudi. At AstroLabs, our focus remained steadfast on fostering an environment ripe for innovation and growth, navigating the ever-evolving landscape with determination and adaptability. Today, we encapsulate some of the top themes and stories of 2023 […]
Saudi Round-Up: Collaboration for Global Transformation
From the 27th of November to the 4th of December Our Saudi Round-Up of top business news stories helps you stay informed about the latest moves across sectors and the Kingdom. This week’s round-up encompasses the major movements in international agreements and the economy, aviation, fintech, travel & tourism, and sustainability, with a spotlight on Saudi’s leading role in the 28th meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28). Saudi Roundup Spotlight:The Kingdom Celebrates Expo 2030 […]
Riyadh’s Bold Leap Captures The Expo Spotlight — A 2030 Blueprint, with 2040 Aspirations
In under thirty days, Saudi Arabia has seized global attention with two groundbreaking announcements; the hosting of Riyadh Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Riyadh has triumphed over Rome and Busan, garnering a decisive 119 out of 165 members of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), to host the ‘most connected’ Expo in history, a record since its inception in 1851. As 2023 draws to a close, the Kingdom isn’t just making headlines—it’s dominating them. The Kingdom’s […]
The Saudi-Korean Economic Blueprint: A Sustainable Environment for Growth
The recent visit of the South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, to the Kingdom led to the signing of 52 key agreements at the Saudi-Korean Investment Forum this week, covering key areas like investment, trade, energy, and the automotive industry. In this deep dive, we unpack the significance of this announcement for the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming into a global hub for manufacturing and production, driven by Vision 2030 objectives. With over 11,000 factories already operational as of the […]