Saudi Arabia’s service sectors expand in 2025

22 Oct 2026 · Market data

StatusReported by ZAWYA from the GASTAT report; not confirmed elsewhere.

Saudi Arabia’s producing factories in industrial cities increased by 18.9 percent to 4,938 in 2025 compared with 2024, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The authority’s Services Statistics 2025 report says the factories were distributed across 36 industrial cities. The annual publication draws on administrative records from relevant authorities and covers service availability across the Kingdom’s regions, governorates and centers.

Tourism figures showed the number of hotels rising by 31.6 percent to 2,847. Hotel rooms exceeded 491,000, up 23.4 percent compared with 2024. The Kingdom also recorded 3,090 serviced apartments, comprising more than 105,000 units, while travel and tourism agencies increased by 16.2 percent to 3,177.

Air transport recorded 29 airports, unchanged from 2024. Domestic and international flights exceeded 979,000 and carried approximately 141 million passengers. The report provides these figures as part of its overview of services across the Kingdom.

The total number of schools increased by 1.9 percent to 32,000 in 2025. Girls’ schools numbered 20,100, up 3.1 percent, while boys’ schools totaled 11,900, down 0.1 percent compared with 2024. Public schools accounted for 24,200, including 9,100 boys’ schools and 15,000 girls’ schools; private schools totaled 7,800, including 2,700 boys’ schools and 5,100 girls’ schools.

Healthcare provision included 292 government hospitals affiliated with the Ministry of Health and 63 government hospitals affiliated with other entities. The Kingdom had 2,177 primary healthcare centers. Riyadh recorded the highest number at 406, followed by Makkah with 321 and Asir with 281; the report also counted 515 Saudi Red Crescent ambulance centers.

Commercial bank branches increased by 0.3 percent to 1,910 in 2025. Riyadh had the highest number, at 585, followed by Makkah with 385 and the Eastern Province with 349. The number of ATMs exceeded 14,000, a decline of 2.7 percent compared with 2024.

Social security offices and units declined by 14.2 percent to 91, while the number of social development centers remained unchanged at 39. GASTAT says the annual Services Statistics publication is based on administrative records supplied by relevant authorities. It covers service availability across Saudi Arabia’s administrative regions, governorates and centers.

Why this mattersFor a Madinah practice, the reported growth in hotels and serviced-apartment supply is a useful national benchmark when testing hospitality and residential feasibility, though the article gives no Madinah-specific breakdown. The figures may help frame early demand and competition assumptions, but they do not establish local occupancy, room rates, project costs or available plots; those would need separate verification.

Key figures2025 · 18.9 percent · 4,938 factories · 36 industrial cities · 31.6 percent · 2,847 hotels · 491,000 hotel rooms · 23.4 percent · 3,090 serviced apartments · 105,000 units · 16.2 percent · 3,177 agencies · 29 airports · 979,000 flights · 141 million passengers · 1.9 percent · 32,000 schools · 20,100 girls’ schools · 3.1 percent · 11,900 boys’ schools · 0.1 percent · 24,200 public schools · 9,100 boys’ schools · 15,000 girls’ schools · 7,800 private schools · 2,700 boys’ schools · 5,100 girls’ schools · 292 Ministry of Health government hospitals · 63 other government hospitals · 2,177 primary healthcare centers · 406 Riyadh · 321 Makkah · 281 Asir · 515 ambulance centers · 0.3 percent · 1,910 bank branches · 585 Riyadh · 385 Makkah · 349 Eastern Province · 14,000 ATMs · 2.7 percent · 14.2 percent · 91 social security offices and units · 39 social development centers

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