Saudi R&D spending jumps 30.4 per cent to $7.86bn

The Saudi Arabia research and development (R&D) ecosystem saw significant expansion in 2024, with total spending rising 30.4 per cent to SR29.48bn ($7.86bn), according to new data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The results highlight the Kingdom’s accelerating push to strengthen innovation, scientific capability and economic competitiveness.

The business sector accounted for the largest share of R&D expenditure at 40.3 per cent, followed closely by the government sector at 40.2 per cent.

R&D in Saudi Arabia

Higher education institutions contributed the remaining 19.5 per cent, underscoring the increasingly diversified nature of the Kingdom’s innovation landscape.

Workforce participation in R&D also increased sharply. The number of employees working in research and development activities rose 14.7 per cent in 2024, reaching 56,593, reflecting expanding capacity across public, private and academic institutions.

GASTAT said its annual R&D statistics represent one of the Kingdom’s key indicators for assessing research activity, offering a comprehensive picture of spending levels, workforce size and researcher distribution.

The authority noted that the data provide a reliable reference point for national policymaking and support Saudi Arabia’s sustained efforts to enhance innovation, productivity and long-term competitiveness.