For the first time in its history, Saudi Arabia’s non-profit sector has exceeded SAR100 billion ($26.7 billion) in economic contribution, accounting for 3.3 percent of the Kingdom’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Prospects for the Non-Profit Sector 2025 report by the King Khalid Foundation.
The report highlighted key contributions within the sector: Awqaf accounted for SAR48 billion, according to the General Authority for Awqaf, while non-profit organizations contributed SAR47 billion in spending, based on data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Additionally, volunteering added an estimated SAR5 billion in economic value, while cooperative societies contributed SAR2 billion, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.
Read | Saudi Arabia’s private equity transactions hit $2.8 billion across 15 deals in 2024: Report
The sector’s rapid growth is on track to achieve the Vision 2030 target of reaching 5 percent of GDP two years ahead of schedule.
Key contributors
Education and research organizations led the sector in revenue generation, surpassing SAR19 billion, while health organizations recorded the highest spending at SAR15 billion, driven by the conversion of government assets in health and education into non-profit entities. Meanwhile, organizations focused on culture, entertainment, and social services reported the highest employment rates.
The report also examined funding sources, emphasizing the role of government support and digital donation platforms, which collectively raised over SAR15 billion in 2024.
The National Platform for Charitable Work (Ehsan) saw a significant contribution from small donors (SAR1, SAR10, and SAR100), while major philanthropists (donations of SAR100,000 or more) accounted for 26 percent of total contributions.
On the community level, engagement in the non-profit sector remained strong, with 23 percent of Saudi citizens participating in volunteer work and 47 percent making donations in 2024.
