“Innovation Is a Pillar for Attracting Investments”… Afnan Ababtain Reveals to Misr Mubasher the Features of the Saudi Experience at the Arab Innovation and Investment Forum
By: Magdy Rabie
Ms. Afnan Ababtain, Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the Ministry of Investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, participated in the activities of the Arab Innovation and Investment Forum in Cairo. Journalist Magdy Rabie conducted an exclusive interview with her, during which she discussed the Kingdom’s vision of the role of innovation in supporting investment and building a competitive and sustainable economy.
During the interview, Afnan Ababtain emphasized that innovation is no longer an optional supporting element within Saudi investment policies, but rather has become a fundamental pillar upon which decisions and strategies are built, within the framework of the comprehensive economic transformation led by Saudi Vision 2030. She noted that innovation represents one of the most important drivers for attracting high-quality investments and enhancing the efficiency of the national economy.
She explained that Saudi Arabia is witnessing rapid growth across multiple sectors as part of achieving one of the main objectives of Vision 2030, namely economic diversification. Among the most prominent of these sectors are financial technology (FinTech), biotechnology, deep tech, smart transportation, and the environment, water, and agriculture sectors, in addition to the space sector, as well as other vital sectors such as tourism and entertainment.
Ababtain added that this sectoral diversity has made the Kingdom today an attractive investment destination for smart capital owners and investment funds, especially in light of the significant development witnessed by the entrepreneurship and venture capital ecosystem in recent years.
She revealed that the Kingdom has achieved a qualitative leap in startup investment, ranking first in the Arab world in terms of the volume of investment in startups, according to the latest 2025 report by the “MAGNiTT” platform, reflecting investors’ confidence in the Saudi investment environment.
The Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the Ministry of Investment also reviewed the key features of the Saudi experience in integrating innovation into the investment ecosystem. This experience is based on integration between government entities, the private sector, and entrepreneurs, in addition to building a supportive ecosystem for startups—especially in their early stages—through incubators, accelerators, financing programs, and technical support.
Regarding Arab cooperation in the fields of innovation and investment, Ababtain stressed the importance of joint Arab forums, such as the Arab Innovation and Investment Forum, in strengthening partnerships, exchanging expertise, and building cross-border projects that contribute to achieving knowledge- and innovation-based economic development.
At the conclusion of the interview, Afnan Ababtain delivered a message to entrepreneurs and investors across the Arab world, urging them to seize the promising opportunities currently offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She affirmed that the investment environment has become more open and attractive, and is supportive of innovative ideas capable of creating sustainable economic and developmental impact.
It is worth noting that the Arab Innovation and Investment Forum witnessed broad participation from officials, experts, and investors from various Arab countries, with the aim of discussing ways to enhance innovation as a key gateway to attracting investments and shaping a more competitive Arab economic future.
