Industrial cities in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region hit 77% occupancy rate, official reveals
RIYADH: Industrial cities in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region are performing at occupancy rates of up to 77 percent, with 158 factories currently in operation, reflecting strong growth and a supportive business environment, according to a top official.
During a meeting organized by the the area's chamber of commerce, the Kingdom's Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs Khalil Ibrahim bin Salamah explained that the value of industrial investments in the region during the first quarter of 2025 reached SR700 million ($186 million), with the city of Buraydah accounting for the largest share, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
This reflects the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy, introduced in October 2022, which aims to increase the number of factories in the Kingdom to approximately 36,000 by 2035. This approach is designed to attract investment, scale up local production, and strengthen non-oil exports.
The SPA statement said: 'The meeting aimed to introduce the most prominent ministerial services and programs and discuss the sector's aspirations to achieve continued growth in development and investment.'
It added: 'The meeting addressed several topics related to the industrial sector, including standard incentives for the industrial sector, which enhance the competitive sustainability of the industrial sector in the Kingdom.'
The statement further revealed that the assembly addressed the environmental impact of industrial facilities and presented solutions to help improve efficiency and quality.
It also included a review and introduction to the Factories of the Future Program, as well as the process of converting these facilities to adopt modern manufacturing practices, automation, and digitization, which directly contribute to the development of the industrial sector in the Kingdom.
The gathering also saw a review of the Industrial Links Program, which connects manufacturers with major projects to achieve the goals of the national strategy for increasing local content.
The Qassim region experienced 25 percent growth in its business sector over the past seven years, reflecting increased economic activity and contributing to the Kingdom's goal of balanced development, the Ministry of Commerce reported in a post on its official X account in May.
The number of commercial records in the central region rose from 68,000 in 2018 to 85,000 by the end of the first quarter of this year, the ministry said at the time.
In 2024, Qassim Municipality announced that the region had successfully concluded 711 investment contracts, with a total value exceeding SR740 million. The municipality also provided 1050 diverse investment opportunities aimed at supporting economic development and enhancing the quality of life in the region.
The increase comes as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its economic diversification strategy, aiming to increase the private sector's share of the gross domestic product from 40 percent to 65 percent by 2030.
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