Dubai, UAE — Saudi Arabia climbed four places to 13th among the world’s most competitive economies in the 2026 World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the World Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).
The Kingdom ranked 13th out of 70 economies assessed in the annual report, improving from 17th place a year earlier and placing third among G20 countries, behind the United States and China.
The report attributed the improvement to stronger performance across all four of its main pillars: economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency and infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia advanced to 12th place in both economic performance and government efficiency from 17th previously, while its ranking in business efficiency improved to ninth from 12th. Its infrastructure ranking rose to 28th from 31st.
According to IMD, the Kingdom’s progress was supported by gains in 15 of the report’s 20 sub-pillars, particularly in international trade, employment and business regulations.
Saudi Commerce Minister and Chairman of the Saudi Center for Competitiveness and Business, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, said the results reflected the impact of reforms implemented under Vision 2030.
The report showed Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in a number of indicators, including growth in commercial services exports, terms of trade, support for banking and financial services for commercial activity, corporate cybersecurity and internet users per 1,000 inhabitants.
The Kingdom also ranked second globally in social cohesion, early-stage entrepreneurial activity, understanding the need for economic and social reforms and public-private partnerships supporting technological development.
It placed third globally in indicators, including the adaptability of government policy to economic changes, public finance efficiency, government policy transparency, support for company formation legislation, value systems, banking regulation compliance and industrial electricity costs.
Overall, Saudi Arabia ranked among the global top 10 in 74 of the report’s 262 indicators.
The executive survey accompanying the report highlighted the attractiveness of the Saudi business environment, citing economic dynamism, government efficiency, reliable infrastructure, policy stability, access to finance, corporate governance standards, the legal framework and a business-friendly environment.
The Saudi Center for Competitiveness and Business said progress was supported by cooperation with government agencies, improved statistical reporting and more than 1,000 legislative, procedural and technological reforms aimed at enhancing the business environment.
