05-03-2025
Saudi Arabia's non-profit sector passes SR100bn for first time
For the first time in its history, Saudi Arabia's non-profit sector has exceeded SR100bn ($26.7bn) in economic contribution, accounting for 3.3 per cent of the Kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Prospects for the Non-Profit Sector 2025 report by the King Khalid Foundation.
The report highlighted key contributions within the sector, with Awqaf accounting for SR48bn ($12.8bn), according to the General Authority for Awqaf.
Non-profit organisations contributed SR47bn ($12.5bn) in spending, based on data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Saudi non-profit sector
Additionally, volunteering added an estimated SR5bn ($1.3bn) in economic value, while cooperative societies contributed SR2bn ($533m), according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
The sector's rapid growth is on track to achieve the Vision 2030 target of reaching 5 per cent of GDP two years ahead of schedule.
Education and research organisations led the sector in revenue generation, surpassing SR19bn ($5.1bn), while health organisations recorded the highest spending at SR15bn ($4bn), driven by the conversion of government assets in health and education into non-profit entities.
Meanwhile, organisations focused on culture, entertainment, and social services reported the highest employment rates.
The report also examined funding sources, emphasising the role of government support and digital donation platforms, which collectively raised over SR15bn ($4bn) in 2024.
The National Platform for Charitable Work (Ehsan) saw a significant contribution from small donors (SR 1, SR 10, and SR 100), while major philanthropists (donations of SR 100,000 or more) accounted for 26 per cent of total contributions.
