Prime Highlights:
- Saudi Venture Capital Co. (SVC) has committed $1.2 billion since 2018, attracting $5.9 billion from partners, keeping Saudi Arabia as the top venture capital market in MENA.
- SVC launched its first Private Capital Forum, connecting 1,070 participants and 59 speakers, boosting dialogue on private investment in the region.
Key Facts:
- As of February 2025, SVC-backed funds have invested in over 800 startups and SMEs across multiple sectors.
- Saudi Arabia led MENA venture capital in 2025 with $1.7 billion in funding and a sixfold increase in investors since 2018.
Background:
Saudi Venture Capital Co. (SVC) has boosted venture capital and private equity funding by committing $1.2 billion since 2018 and attracting $5.9 billion from partners, keeping Saudi Arabia as the top venture capital market in the Middle East and North Africa.
SVC’s annual Impact Report shows the company now backs 65 funds and supports over 1,000 startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, education technology, transport, and logistics.
The report highlights that Saudi Arabia retained its top MENA venture capital ranking for the third consecutive year in 2025, with funding reaching a record $1.7 billion. The number of venture capital investors in the Kingdom also grew sixfold, rising from 34 in 2018 to 200 by 2025, reflecting a maturing and expanding ecosystem.
Nora Al-Sarhan, SVC deputy CEO and chief investment officer, said the findings “demonstrate the progress of Saudi Arabia’s private capital ecosystem under Vision 2030. We remain committed to developing investment programs and initiatives that strengthen the market and diversify the economy.”
The Kingdom’s venture capital sector continued to grow in 2025, completing 254 deals worth $1.66 billion, compared with 178 deals totaling $750 million in 2024, accounting for roughly 40% of the region’s total venture capital activity. The UAE followed with $613 million across 188 deals.
SVC held its first Private Capital Forum, a regional event on private investment. It had 1,070 participants, 59 speakers, 20 sessions, reached 7.2 million people online, and got over 10.5 million media mentions.
By February 2025, SVC-backed funds had invested in more than 800 startups and small businesses, boosting Saudi Arabia as a hub for innovation and investment.
