Saudi Fashion Sector Hits 2.5% of GDP in 2023

Saudi Arabia's fashion industry has grown into a more significant part of the national economy, with its contribution to gross domestic product reaching about 2.5% in 2023, up from 1.4% the previous year. The rise reflects rapid expansion across the sector, from local design and retail to manufacturing and distribution.

In 2022, the fashion ecosystem generated gross value added of around SAR 46.9 billion, equivalent to 1.4% of GDP. By 2023 the wider Saudi fashion market was valued at roughly USD 30 billion (about SAR 112–113 billion). Projections point to continued growth, with the market expected to reach around USD 34 billion in 2025 and between USD 40 billion and USD 42 billion by 2028–2029.

Employment has expanded alongside the sector's value. The industry supported about 230,000 jobs in 2022, rising to roughly 320,000 jobs in 2023. Fashion accounted for around 1.8% of the total Saudi workforce in 2022, and women made up about 52% of the fashion workforce in 2023 — a notable indicator of the sector's role in creating opportunities.

When fashion is combined with beauty and fragrances, the estimated contribution reaches about 2.6% of Saudi GDP, equivalent to roughly USD 33.6 billion by the mid-2020s.

For residents and job seekers across the Kingdom, the numbers signal a maturing industry offering more retail, design, and manufacturing roles. As of the latest available public data, the 2.5% figure for 2023 remains the most recent officially referenced share, with no later confirmed percentage published at the same level of detail.

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