Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has achieved significant milestones in the global competitiveness landscape, as revealed in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026. The Kingdom secured the third position globally in the "Creation of Firms" indicator, attributed to streamlined procedures that have accelerated business startup processes. These advancements were made possible through reduced requirements and the implementation of automated procedures, enhancing the ease of establishing new businesses.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Arabia advanced to the fourth position in the "Equal Opportunity" indicator. This progress is a result of enabling individuals and establishments to engage in economic activities and access facilities and enablers in a fair and effective manner. The Kingdom's commitment to fostering a balanced economic environment has played a crucial role in this achievement.

In addition to these accomplishments, Saudi Arabia climbed to seventh place globally in the "Large Corporations" indicator. This reflects the capability of large companies within the Kingdom to operate efficiently and productively, allowing them to compete with major global firms. The Ministry of Commerce emphasized that these advancements are a result of efforts to develop a robust legislative and procedural ecosystem, empowering the business sector in collaboration with both public and private sectors.

Overall, Saudi Arabia ranked 13th globally in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook and achieved third place among G20 countries. The Kingdom demonstrated progress across all main pillars of the report, which include economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure.