WOMEN AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SAUDI ARABIA: A NEW ERA UNDER VISION 2030
- Océane Caron
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 30
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has undergone a profound societal and economic transformation driven by Vision 2030. Among the most striking reforms is the growing integration of women into the workforce and their rise as entrepreneurs. Back in 2016, the Kingdom set a target to reach 30% female participation in the labor market by 2030. This goal was already surpassed by 2022, with women representing 35.6% of the workforce, according to the General Authority for Statistics. Between 2016 and 2023, the number of women employed in the private sector doubled, rising from 282,000 to over 624,700 employees.
This shift is the result of a series of major legislative reforms. The lifting of the driving ban in 2018 expanded women’s mobility and professional autonomy. Eased guardianship laws allowed Saudi women to establish and manage businesses without prior male approval. The Monsha’at platform, launched under Saudi Vision 2030, now enables them to legally register their companies online in just a few hours, streamlining their entry into the national economic ecosystem.
In Riyadh, the Women’s Business Park – developed in partnership with Procter & Gamble and Al-Dabbagh Group – exemplifies this drive to accelerate female entrepreneurship. Promoted as the largest women-only business hub in the Middle East, it combines coworking spaces, strategic advisory, and training programs to facilitate the creation and growth of women-led businesses.
Education statistics further illustrate Saudi women’s rising influence. According to the World Bank, they account for 58% of university graduates in the country. This talent pool is increasingly entering strategic sectors such as tech, healthtech, and edtech, all aligned with the Kingdom’s economic diversification priorities under Vision 2030.
Several prominent figures embody this national momentum. Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud became the first Saudi woman appointed ambassador to the United States in 2019, after leading a luxury goods distribution company and launching initiatives to advance women’s economic participation. Another example is Dr. Basmah Omair, former CEO of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and founder of Behavioral Management Consulting, a leading firm in organizational transformation and female leadership development in Saudi Arabia.
These changes are not merely social but strategic for the national economy. They represent powerful levers for international companies seeking to establish themselves sustainably in the Kingdom. Investing in or collaborating with women-led enterprises addresses Vision 2030 priorities while strengthening ESG performance and cultural alignment in local projects. Incorporating this dimension can therefore become a major competitive advantage, both commercially and reputationally, especially for players in consulting, tech, finance, and education.
Today, Vision 2030 is shaping a new image of Saudi Arabia. Female entrepreneurship, once constrained by cultural and legal barriers, is becoming a symbol of openness and modernity. Foreign companies have a key role to play in supporting this dynamic by investing in training programs, specialized incubators, and local partnerships aligned with these new ambitions.
The rise of female entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia is not a trend but a deep, enduring transformation. Understanding and integrating this reality into your market entry or investment strategy ensures stronger market insight, cultural alignment, and positive impact within the Vision 2030 ecosystem.
Would you like to integrate female leadership and diversity into your projects in Saudi Arabia?
👉 Contact PEAK Ventures today for strategic guidance and key introductions in your sector.
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
