Saudi Arabia Climbs to 13th in Global Competitiveness

Saudi Arabia has climbed to 13th place globally among 70 economies in the 2026 edition of a leading annual world competitiveness ranking, advancing four positions from 17th in the previous year. The result also places the Kingdom third among the economies of the G20.

The ranking evaluates economies across four main pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure. Saudi Arabia recorded strong scores across the board, ranking 12th in both economic performance and government efficiency, 9th in business efficiency, and 28th in infrastructure.

The most notable progress came in business efficiency, which improved by three places to reach ninth, while infrastructure rose from 31st to 28th. the gains were linked to improvements in international trade, employment, business legislation, and tax policy.

Why it matters

For residents and businesses across the Kingdom, a higher competitiveness ranking reflects an improving environment for investment, jobs, and enterprise. Stronger scores in trade, employment, and business rules point to a more streamlined climate for companies of all sizes and greater opportunities in the labour market.

The steady rise reflects ongoing reforms tied to Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and strengthen the private sector. The ranking is an independent global assessment and does not involve any government fee, application, or procedure for individuals or companies.

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