“By the end of December 2023, the total number of operational factories in Saudi Arabia reached around 11,549, with investments totaling SAR 1.541 trillion ($410.9 billion). New licenses covered 25 industries, led by food production (244 licenses), non-metallic minerals (176), fabricated metals (165), and rubber and plastics (123). National companies received the majority of new licenses (1,043), followed by foreign investments (194) and joint ventures (142). Small enterprises received the most licenses (1,203), followed by medium-sized enterprises (158), micro-enterprises (15), and large enterprises (3).” Saudi Factories Surpass 2023 Targets, Boosting Product Competitiveness [Asharq Al-Awsat]