Over the last decade, the Saudi Arabian government—with the support of major telecom and large industrial companies—has been developing the country’s innovation ecosystem, and these efforts are starting to show results. Saudi Arabia is today among the fastest-transforming countries in the world, diversifying its economy and adding whole new sectors.

For example, Saudi Arabia’s biggest company, Saudi Aramco, had only been granted around 100 U.S. patents over a period of 77 years up to 2010. In 2021, the oil and gas giant was awarded 864. In 2022, Aramco’s patents increased to 963. Saudi Arabia jumped up 15 places on the 2022 Global Innovation Index issued by the World Intellectual Property Organization. Saudi Arabia was also ranked second globally among the G20 countries for digital competitiveness, according to the European Center for Digital Competitiveness. This year, five of the top 10 most-funded startups in the Middle East are based in the kingdom, compared to two in 2020 and one in 2017.

Another key piece in the innovation puzzle is sustainability. Saudi Arabia has committed to sourcing 50% of its power from renewable sources by 2030, which will pave the way to its net-zero emissions target by 2060. The Saudi Water Conversion Corporation has set a new world record for the lowest energy consumption for a water desalination plant at 2.27 kW/h per cubic meter.

In this report, Saudi Arabia’s Research, Development, and Innovation Authority, in partnership with Forbes Middle East, unveils the 10 most innovative companies in Saudi Arabia. The report also highlights 40 of the kingdom’s most progressive companies. The companies are divided into four categories in line with the Crown Prince’s National Aspirations and Priorities for RDI for the next two decades: sustainable environment and supply of essential needs, health and wellness, energy and industrial leadership, and economies of the future.

We reveal what each company has achieved in terms of innovation, including their sustainability initiatives, as well as their efforts to share knowledge, increase awareness, and inspire others.