Saudi Arabia elevated its global entrepreneurship profile at the G20 Startup20 Summit held in Johannesburg, where its delegation, led by H.R.H. Prince Fahd bin Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz, presented an ambitious vision for innovation under South Africa’s G20 presidency.
Supported by NEOM, the Saudi delegation included key government entities, private-sector leaders, nonprofit organizations, and prominent entrepreneurs and investors. Their participation highlighted the Kingdom’s accelerating progress in fostering a competitive entrepreneurship ecosystem and expanding international cooperation.
The agenda featured several high-level visits to major innovation and investment hubs in South Africa. These included the Innovation Hub in Pretoria, where the delegation explored leading practices in research and commercialization; Investec Group to gain insights into the country’s investment climate; GEN’s On Sloane22 entrepreneurship center; Discovery Group, known for its life-enhancing technologies; and the historic Nelson Mandela House. These engagements aimed to exchange knowledge, build partnerships, and draw from global best practices in startup development.
During the summit’s official dinner, Adwa AlDakheel, Founder and CEO of Falak Investment Hub, delivered a keynote speech emphasizing that Saudi Arabia is witnessing a “golden moment” in its entrepreneurship journey. She highlighted the expanding role of Saudi women in driving economic growth and noted that Falak Investment has backed startups collectively valued at up to 2 billion, contributing to the creation of thousands of jobs.
On the second day, Khalid AlMutawa, General Manager of Entrepreneurship at the National Technology Development Program (NTDP), outlined the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance its innovation ecosystem and strengthen collaboration between entrepreneurs and global investors.
A major highlight of the summit came as the Saudi startup Net Zero, led by Dr. Mohammed AlShaikh, secured first place in the Sustainability and Green Technology category, marking an achievement that underscores the global potential of Saudi innovators.
Saudi Arabia’s national pavilion featured high-value projects and investment opportunities, particularly in technology and energy, and hosted interactive workshops that showcased national programs supporting startup growth. The pavilion’s presence generated significant engagement, leading to the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding and opening new pathways for collaboration with international innovation organizations.
During the main sessions, Prince Fahd reaffirmed that entrepreneurship and SME development play a vital role in achieving Saudi Vision 2030, noting substantial progress in competitiveness and ecosystem maturity.
Saudi Arabia concluded its participation with a strengthened international presence and renewed global partnerships, reinforcing its trajectory toward a diversified, innovation-driven economy.
