Entrepreneurship

Small- to medium-size enterprises are key components of economic growth. By fostering value-based entrepreneurship projects with the goal of developing the domestic economy and creating quality job opportunities, we are actively supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and its aspiration to transform into a knowledge-based economy that relies on innovation, technology, and diversified sources of income for entrepreneurship.

Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Center (Wa’ed)

Through our Entrepreneur Center, “Wa’ed,” we harness potential business ideas, empower our people, and by creating opportunities for our talented entrepreneurs, we invest in a brighter, more prosperous future, positively impacting the communities we call home.

Wa’ed, aims to empower and inspire the local business leaders of tomorrow. Supporting more than 100 diverse entrepreneurial businesses in Saudi Arabia, we provide the necessary financial support, guidance, and tools for entrepreneurs with creative ideas to get their businesses up and running in a variety of sectors, such as information technology, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, chemicals, education, supply chain, solar power, energy services, and industrial goods. The program aligns with the goals and aspirations of Saudi Vision 2030 to create a vibrant society in which citizens can fulfil their dreams, hopes, and ambitions to succeed in a thriving economy.

Sadeem, a spinoff company — specializing in wireless environmental sensing systems — from KAUST, and the world’s first multi-patented sensor solution for flood, traffic, weather, and air quality monitoring, has secured $2.6 million of co-investment from the KAUST Innovation Fund and Saudi Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures Fund.

To date, Wa’ed has trained over 8,500 entrepreneurs, enabled the creation of over 10,000 jobs, funded over 160 business ventures, and supports KSA economic diversification