Saudi Arabia Climbs to 46th in Global Innovation Index as Regional Tech Race Heats Up

Saudi Arabia has strengthened its position in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, rising to 46th out of 139 countries as it accelerates efforts to become a leading hub for research, technology, and entrepreneurship. The latest ranking, published by the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), marks the Kingdom’s continued climb in recent years, from 66th place in 2021 to 47th last year.

The annual report, which tracks innovation performance worldwide, also ranked Saudi Arabia 40th among 51 high-income economies. It cited improvements in market sophistication, a stable policy environment, and stronger collaboration between universities and industry as key drivers of progress.

According to WIPO, innovation performance in the Middle East is “gaining ground,” with the UAE advancing to 30th place and Qatar to 48th. Saudi Arabia and Qatar were highlighted for their high input scores — 31st and 34th respectively — reflecting strengths in areas such as policy stability and academic-industry cooperation.

Strong Business Environment and Policy Stability

Saudi Arabia ranked 5th globally for creating a business-friendly environment and 12th in policy stability for doing business. In the human capital and research category, the Kingdom placed 35th, while it ranked 36th in infrastructure.

These results follow a series of other international benchmarks recognizing the Kingdom’s progress. In April, the US Chamber of Commerce reported that Saudi Arabia achieved a 17.5 percent improvement in the Global Intellectual Property Index, one of the largest gains among 55 assessed economies. Two months later, Startup Genome, in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, revealed that Riyadh climbed 60 places in three years to secure 23rd in its list of the world’s top 100 emerging startup ecosystems.

Regional and Global Context

Qatar stood out in the WIPO report as a global hub for attracting international talent, ranking first worldwide in tertiary inbound mobility, while also excelling in information and communication technology adoption. Other Middle East and North Africa countries ranked in the index included Morocco (57th), Bahrain (62nd), Jordan (65th), and Kuwait (73rd).

Globally, Switzerland topped the index, followed by Sweden and the United States. South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and China rounded out the top 10.

Daren Tang, director general of WIPO, said the 2025 report demonstrates how nations that prioritize innovation are positioning themselves for long-term growth. “The fastest-advancing economies in the GII are those that view innovation as a fundamental engine of resilience, growth and competitiveness,” he noted.

“While we see encouraging progress, challenges remain for countries to fully harness their innovation potential,” Tang added.

Saudi Arabia’s steady climb in the rankings underscores its broader economic transformation under Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, attract global investment, and foster a thriving innovation ecosystem.