Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Startup Genome, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), launched the 2026 edition of the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER 2026), providing a comprehensive analysis of the current state of startup ecosystems worldwide.
Dubai ranked 12th among the Top 100 Emerging Startup Ecosystems globally, while Riyadh was positioned in the 21-30 range, with four unicorns in each city.
The report revealed that the value of the Riyadh startup ecosystem reached $18 billion in 2025, with a growth rate of 477%, close to the regional average of $20 billion.
The value of the AI-native ecosystem in the Saudi capital reached $140 million in 2025, marking a 215% increase and exceeding global and regional growth rates at 161% and 47%, respectively.
The Riyadh startup ecosystem also secured a total VC funding of $5.1 billion, surpassing the global average of $5 billion. Of the total VC funding, $993 million was deployed into early-stage startups.
GSER 2026 found that Riyadh has emerged as MENA's dominant Fintech hub, with investment in the sector reaching $2.1 billion, underpinned by a progressive regulatory environment.
On the funding side, Saudi Arabia led the MENA region in 2025 with $1.72 billion in VC investment, a 145% year-over-year increase and the highest level since 2018, accounting for more than 50% of total MENA VC capital for the third consecutive year.
