Latest news with #MinistryOfInvestment
Zawya
21-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Foreign startup licenses in Saudi Arabia surge 118% to 550 by mid-2025
RIYADH — The number of foreign startups licensed under Saudi Arabia's "Riyadi" initiative has reached 550 as of mid-2025, marking a 118% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Investment. This surge comes as part of national efforts to position the Kingdom as a regional hub for entrepreneurship by facilitating international startup entry and creating a flexible regulatory environment that fosters innovation and attracts investment. The General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha'at) has also issued 364 licenses for business incubators and accelerators across the country. These entities have played a vital role in attracting international entrepreneurs and supporting their growth journey — from early prototyping and mentorship to investor and market access — enabling them to launch effectively in the Saudi market. Flagship international events hosted in the Kingdom, such as Biban and LEAP, have further drawn global founders by showcasing Saudi Arabia's dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem and investment opportunities. Additionally, the active participation of Saudi stakeholders in global forums like Web Summit, Vivatech, and Slush has enhanced international networking and promoted the Kingdom as an attractive destination for startup activity. The "Riyadi" license (Startup Investment Registration) is one of the Ministry of Investment's key initiatives, designed to empower international and local entrepreneurs to establish ventures easily with partners from around the world. The initiative supports Saudi Arabia's broader objectives of economic diversification, innovation, and embedding a culture of entrepreneurship. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arab News
21-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Foreign startup registrations in Saudi Arabia rise 118%
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment has granted 550 foreign new ventures the Startup Investment Registration, known as the Riyadi license, as of mid-2025, marking an annual rise of 118 percent. The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, known as Monshaʾat, has issued 364 licenses to business incubators and accelerators nationwide, according to a report by the body. Monshaʾat said these entities provide facilities for prototype development, mentorship, and connections to investors and commercial partners. The increase in Riyadi registrations aligns with the Kingdom's surge in venture capital activity. According to regional platform MAGNiTT, Saudi Arabia led MENA VC funding in the first half of 2025, with $860 million raised, representing a 116 percent annual increase across 114 deals. This marked a 31 percent rise in deal count compared to the same period in 2024. This momentum built on a record 2024 performance, when startups in the Kingdom secured $750 million in funding and saw a 34 percent increase in early- and mid-stage 'MEGA' rounds below $100 million. 'This increase forms part of joint national efforts to reinforce the Kingdom's role as a regional hub for entrepreneurship by streamlining market access for foreign startups and establishing a flexible regulatory environment that supports innovation and attracts investment,' Monsha'at's report said. According to the Ministry of Investment, this trend reflects growing international interest in Saudi Arabia's investment environment, underpinned by recent legislative changes, expanded digital infrastructure, and a range of support programs introduced in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. Saudi organizers have hosted international startup events, including Biban and LEAP, which feature presentations on the local ecosystem and investment opportunities. Government agencies and private-sector representatives have attended overseas gatherings, such as the Web Summit, VivaTech, and Slush, to facilitate networking with foreign entrepreneurs and promote the Kingdom as a potential base for regional operations. In addition to the Riyadi permit, the Ministry of Investment will issue a full suite of eight sector-specific business licenses, designed to accommodate virtually any foreign investor's needs. These include service licenses, which permit 100 percent foreign ownership for activities such as IT, consulting, marketing, and hospitality; entrepreneurial authorizations that offer streamlined fees and access to government-led support for startups; and industrial licenses for establishing manufacturing facilities. Specialized agricultural permits cover crop cultivation and animal husbandry, while trade licenses authorize wholesale, retail and import-export operations. Additional categories encompass real estate licenses for development and brokerage projects, professional permits for individual practitioners and solidarity firms, and mining licenses for exploration and extraction activities. Each permit carries tailored minimum-capital requirements and documentation processes, but all are obtainable through MISA's online portal, which centralizes application, approval and renewal under a unified regulatory framework.
Bloomberg
08-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Malaysia to Continue Engaging with US on Tariffs: Trade Ministry
Malaysia will continue to engage with the US for a 'mutually beneficial' trade agreement after President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on the Southeast Asian nation, higher than the 24% announced in April. 'Malaysia is committed to continuing engagement with the US towards a balanced, mutually beneficial, and comprehensive trade agreement,' the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry said in a statement.
Bloomberg
06-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
French Companies Seek to Invest $947 Million in Malaysia
Several French companies seek to invest a total of 4 billion ringgit ($947 million) in Malaysia after a trade delegation led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met with 40 industry representatives in France on Friday, according to Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. The companies intend to invest in industries including high-tech manufacturing, aerospace, renewable energy, tourism, digital economy and sustainable infrastructure, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Cabinet introduces new rules for granting citizenship through investment
AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a new set of regulations aimed at attracting foreign investment by offering Jordanian citizenship or residency for meeting specific investment criteria. The decision, made during a Cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, follows recommendations by a special committee on investment facilitation, according to the Jordan news agency, Petra. Under the new rules, foreign investors will be eligible for Jordanian citizenship if they purchase new shares in Jordanian companies worth at least JD1 million, provided the shares are not mortgaged or financed through loans. The shares must be purchased within four months of receiving approval from the Ministry of Investment and traded exclusively through licensed financial brokerage firms. As per the new regulations, investors are prohibited from withdrawing or using any funds from the investment, including trading profits, for a period of three years. Additionally, no more than 20 per cent of the total investment can be concentrated in a single company. Citizenship through new projects Citizenship may also be granted to investors who establish and register new productive-sector projects with a minimum capital of JD700,000 in Amman or JD500,000 outside the capital. The project must create 20 jobs in Amman or 10 jobs elsewhere for Jordanian nationals, verified by the Social Security Corporation (SSC). Under the new rules, investors will receive temporary residency during the initial phase and, once employment targets are met, a temporary Jordanian passport valid for three years will be issued. Full citizenship will be granted after three years of verified compliance with investment and employment conditions. Investors may also qualify by acquiring new shares in existing projects worth JD1 million or more, provided at least JD500,000 is invested in fixed and non-current assets. The project must create 20 new jobs for Jordanians, and the investor must retain the shares for at least three years before citizenship is recommended. The Cabinet also decided that current investors may be eligible for citizenship if they hold shares in projects with an average value of JD700,000 in fixed and tangible assets over the last three years, and if they have maintained 90 per cent of required employment levels, averaging 20 Jordanian workers per month during the same period. Outside Amman, the asset threshold drops to JD350,000, with an employment requirement of 10 workers. As per the decision, citizenship may also be extended toan investor's spouse, unmarried, widowed or divorced daughters living under the investor's care, unmarried sons under 24, and dependent parents. For investments exceeding in value JD2 million, sons under 30, their spouses, and children may also receive Jordanian citizenship. Strategic sectors targeted Investors in key sectors, including pharmaceutical warehousing, medical equipment, logistics, and large-scale food storage, are eligible if their company's capital exceeds JD3 million, and they employ 20 Jordanian workers in Amman or 10 workers outside the capital, specifically in pharmacy roles. Investors employing 150 Jordanians in Amman or 100 Jordanians elsewhere, registered with SSC for at least a year, will also be eligible, provided employment continues for two years post-naturalization. In cases where ownership is transferred to first-degree relatives, the new owner may also be granted citizenship, contingent on the original investor's shares being retained for three years. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
