LinkedIn has announced its annual Top Startups list, ranking the top 10 companies based in Saudi Arabia that have established themselves as workplaces that attract top talent.
As the Kingdom tops venture capital funding in the MENA region with SAR 1.5 billion deployed in the first half of 2024, the startups featured in this list are keeping pace, making an impact in their respective industries and exhibiting innovation that propelled their growth trajectory.
LinkedIn’s Top Startups list is published annually and is designed to be a reliable resource that offers guidance to professionals who could be looking for an exciting opportunity at a startup.
The Top Startups for 2024 in the Saudi Arabia are:
- Cipher | سايڤر
- Tamara
- Mawidy – موعدي
- MR MANDOOB | مستر مندوب
- SHIFT inc.
- Rewaa
- Soum
- LAWAZEM | لوازم
- Mozn
- Squadio
Key trends observed from this year’s Top Startups list:
- Digital security services emerge on top: Cipher (#1), a cybersecurity startup, earned the premier spot on the list, signifying the growing importance of IT services in the Kingdom.
- Convenience apps on the rise: Day-to-day service providers are on the rise as delivery app MR MANDOOB (#4), appointment-booking app Mawidy (#3) and car rental app SHIFT inc. (#5) rank amongst the top five startups in this year’s list.
- Growth in the e-commerce marketplace: E-commerce platforms expand their presence on the list as we see Rewaa (#6), a platform offering integrated solutions to retailers, enters the list for the first time and Soum (#7), an AI-powered retail marketplace, moves up to 7th place from 9th in 2023.
- Business operations platforms break new ground: Procurement app LAWAZEM (#8) and talent solutions platform Squadio (#10) signify the need for business solutions providers as an increasing number of international companies set up base in the Kingdom and startups fortify their presence.
Nabila Rahal, MENA News Editor at LinkedIn, said: “This year’s list demonstrates that startups in the Kingdom are continuing to make their presence felt as they break into new industries and contribute to the country’s economic diversification. There is a clear focus on technological and innovative solutions within emerging companies in the country.”
She added, “KSA’s Top Startups List 2024 is a snapshot of the startups and VC landscape in the Kingdom that also offers insights into the latest economic trends. The startups featured on this list have excelled in meeting their clients’ needs and are attracting the top talent in the Kingdom.”
