Monsha’at, Saudi Arabia’s Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, has released its latest quarterly SME Monitor, providing a detailed overview of the latest trends and developments shaping the Kingdom’s dynamic SME ecosystem.

This edition highlights a 48 percent y-o-y increase in new commercial registrations in Q1, key trends in the local and global handicrafts sector, and the many ways in which Saudi Arabia is empowering its next generation of artisanal SMEs.

The report sheds light on the rich heritage of Saudi handicrafts, several of which have been listed in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In addition to well-known mainstays such as Al-Sadu weaving, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri wall decoration, Bisht tailoring, Jambiya daggers, and Madinah pottery, the report also features insights into the cultural and economic significance of Saudi handicrafts. For these reasons and others, 2025 has been designated the “Year of Handicrafts.” 

Thanks to a steady increase in tourism, e-commerce, and consumer interest in authentic Saudi arts and crafts, the report shows, rural female entrepreneurs in particular also stand to gain from a sector expected to be worth $1.3 trillion by 2028. The recent launch of the Saudi Artisanal Company is an example of the sector’s promise.

In addition to aiming to create 9,000 new handicrafts jobs by 2030, SAC hopes to serve 15 percent of the domestic handicrafts market by then, the report shows. Thanks to a raft of recent government initiatives to empower handicrafts SMEs, from the Heritage Commission to the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, opportunities for artisanal entrepreneurs are rife.

In addition to its coverage of handicrafts trends and developments in Saudi Arabia, the latest SME Monitor also has a special section on global developments in the sector. Chief among these are a greater emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness, e-commerce expansion, new technology, and a desire for cultural preservation.

Artisans in Uganda, the report shows, have transformed banana waste into valuable handicrafts such as rugs and lampshades, while designers elsewhere have found ways to use 3D printing with biodegradable materials to create customized garments.

In its survey of broader SME developments across Saudi Arabia, the report also reveals a remarkable increase in commercial registrations in Q1 2025, a key indicator of the country’s booming entrepreneurial landscape. In addition to 154,638 new registrations, sectors like e-commerce reached 41,322 active registrations in that quarter, with an impressive six percent y-o-y increase.

In a show of technological advancement, the number of active cloud-computing registrations shot up by 33 percent.

Thanks to a wide variety of enablement, financing, and business development programs offered by Monsha’at, more than 22,000 SMEs benefited from Saudi Arabia’s leading SME enabler in Q1 2025, the report shows. 

Dyson is accelerating its expansion in Saudi Arabia with the launch of its latest store at Riyadh Park, a strategic move that highlights the brand’s commitment to innovation and deepening its presence in the Kingdom.

Strategically positioned at the mall’s main entrance, opposite Mont Blanc and Lululemon, the 128-square-meter Dyson Demo Store offers an immersive and hands-on environment where visitors can experience the company’s latest technologies firsthand. From haircare and air purification, to intelligent floorcare and next-generation audio, the new store puts the full innovative product range on display.

With growing demand for Dyson’s cutting-edge solutions in the Saudi market, the Riyadh Park location joins a growing portfolio of demo spaces across the Kingdom. The new store features two private styling stations and a wash basin, designed with veiled customers in mind, where visitors can book personal styling sessions and test Dyson’s advanced haircare tools in a comfortable setting.

In-store Dyson experts will walk shoppers through the brand’s latest haircare launches, such as the newly launched Dyson Supersonic r, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. multi-styler available in the latest colorway, Jasper Plum, the Supersonic Nural hair dryer, and the Airstrait wet-to-dry straightener. Each session is tailored to individual needs, helping customers choose the best tools for their hair type and styling routine.

Visitors can also discover Dyson’s latest innovations across other categories, including the 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum, which delivers edge-to-edge deep cleaning with advanced navigation, the Big+Quiet Purifier, engineered for powerful whole-room purification with minimal noise, and the recently launched Dyson OnTrac headphones, featuring immersive audio and 55-hour battery life.

The new store opening represents another significant milestone in Dyson’s expansion in the Kingdom, following the successful launch of the flagship store in Riyadh’s Nakheel Mall last year and Jeddah’s Red Sea Mall in March this year. The brand continues to focus on enhancing the in-store experience, allowing customers in Saudi Arabia to explore, test, and discover its revolutionary technology up close.