Biban 24 SME 2030: Attracting 182,000+ visitors with key partnerships, financing, and innovation to support Saudi entrepreneurship

Biban 24 SME 2030, the highly anticipated five-day event in Riyadh, concluded with impressive results, marking a key milestone in the growth of Saudi Arabia’s SME sector. Over 182,000 visitors attended, with agreements surpassing SR35.4 billion ($9.42 billion), all aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and supporting Vision 2030 goals across the Kingdom.

The theme of this year’s forum, “A Global Destination for Opportunities,” highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting business growth, particularly among SMEs. Monsha’at’s Governor, Sami bin Ibrahim Al-Husseini, emphasized the event’s success as a landmark achievement for Saudi Arabia’s entrepreneurial framework. The forum was instrumental in further aligning the country’s ambitions with Vision 2030, focusing on increasing the SME sector’s contribution to the national economy.

“We’ve seen record-setting agreements and initiatives, demonstrating the collaboration of public and private sector enablers, partners, and sponsors who are helping to empower entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia,” said Al-Husseini. “This is another significant step in realizing Vision 2030’s goal of fostering a thriving and diversified economy.”

A key highlight of Biban 24 was the series of financing agreements signed with local banks, totalling over SR15 billion. These agreements are intended to provide much-needed capital to Saudi entrepreneurs, supporting their ventures and fueling the growth of the SME sector.

In addition to the financing agreements, the event featured numerous partnerships with prominent international organizations, including the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, Bahrain’s Tamkeen Labor Fund, the Korea Franchise Association, and Malaysia’s SMEs. These collaborations brought valuable expertise to the forum and showcased the Kingdom’s increasingly globalized approach to entrepreneurship.

Biban 24 also provided a platform for over 300 panels and workshops, with more than 250 speakers from both local and international backgrounds. The event covered a wide range of topics, from media, tourism, and education to finance, investment, and the non-profit sector. A dedicated stage, Biban Talks, featured over 100 speakers who shared insights and success stories on topics of critical importance to entrepreneurs, such as digital payments, e-commerce, and supply chain management.

The e-commerce section of the forum featured 59 service providers and enablers, offering solutions for modern retail and emerging technologies. These sessions provided valuable guidance on building online marketplaces and navigating the complexities of digital business operations.

Al-Husseini emphasized that the success of Biban 24 demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, with tangible support for businesses at all stages of growth. He concluded that the event underscored the collective efforts of both the public and private sectors in strengthening the SME ecosystem, ultimately driving economic diversification in line with Vision 2030.