Kholoud Hussein 

In a world racing toward decarbonization and sustainable development, Saudi Arabia is turning to a rarely explored, yet abundantly promising, source of prosperity: its seas. The term "blue economy" refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. It includes industries such as coastal tourism, fisheries, maritime transport, renewable ocean energy, and marine biotechnology—all of which hold significant potential for coastal nations like Saudi Arabia. 

Stretching over 1,800 kilometers of Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coastlines, and encompassing 186,000 square kilometers of coastal ecosystems, the Kingdom is now making the "blue economy" a centerpiece of its Vision 2030 strategy. This sector, encompassing everything from fisheries and tourism to marine biotechnology and renewable energy, is seen not only as a path to diversify the economy, but also as a way to balance growth with environmental stewardship.

Saudi Arabia 2030 Vision

On April 28, 2024, Mohammed bin Salman launched Saudi Arabia’s national strategy for the blue economy, with a clear mandate: "Through this strategy, the Kingdom positions the blue economy as a fundamental pillar of its diversified economy, aiming to increase its contribution to GDP, create thousands of job opportunities, and preserve marine ecosystems."

This vision builds upon Saudi Arabia’s existing environmental and economic transformation plans. It calls for a tenfold increase in marine protected areas (from 3% to 30%), a 50% share of renewable energy, and the creation of over 210,000 new jobs in coastal and maritime sectors by 2030. The government expects this initiative to contribute more than SAR 85 billion to the national economy within the same timeframe.

By the Numbers: Coastal Wealth

• 1,800+ km of Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coastline.
• 186,000 km² of coastal and marine territory.
• Fourth-largest coral reef system in the world.
• Over 6,300 tons of fish from Jazan Province annually (20% of national production).
• Target: SAR 85 billion GDP contribution by 2030.
• Projected: 210,000 jobs created in maritime industries.

These numbers only scratch the surface of Saudi Arabia’s marine potential. The government has also emphasized port infrastructure upgrades, desalination investments, and marine innovation hubs along both coasts. In 2023, the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) announced over SAR 17 billion (USD 4.5 billion) in planned investments to expand and modernize key maritime hubs such as Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port. Jeddah Islamic Port alone handled more than 5 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) that year, securing its rank among the world’s busiest ports. On the desalination front, Saudi Arabia produces nearly 20% of the world’s total desalinated water, with the Ras Al-Khair plant alone delivering over 1 million cubic meters daily. Innovative projects by ENOWA in NEOM are pioneering zero-brine discharge systems to turn waste into usable industrial materials.

Meanwhile, institutions like KAUST’s Red Sea Research Center are spearheading marine biodiversity studies, coral health monitoring, and ocean energy pilot programs. The Kingdom has earmarked SAR 1 billion to advance marine research and blue economy innovation, laying the foundation for a thriving, future-ready maritime ecosystem. Major expansion plans are already underway at key ports such as Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port, with billions in investments aimed at enhancing maritime logistics and boosting trade efficiency. At the same time, advancements in desalination technology are helping meet rising water demands sustainably, especially in arid coastal areas. 

Innovation hubs like the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) are working on blue economy R&D, including marine biotech, sustainable aquaculture, and ocean energy applications, intending to position the Kingdom as a global leader in marine sciences. These infrastructure- and research-driven initiatives form the backbone of an ecosystem designed to support long-term growth in the blue economy.

Red Sea Projects: Sustainability Meets Luxury

One of the flagship initiatives under the blue economy umbrella is the Red Sea Global (RSG) project, which integrates eco-tourism with conservation science. RSG CEO John Pagano remarked: "At full capacity, we’re going to contribute SR33 billion annually to the Saudi economy and create 120,000 jobs. That’s not just tourism—it’s infrastructure, services, and long-term skills development."

The RSG project includes the world’s largest coral propagation facility, a coastal reef protection program, and the planting of over 50 million mangrove trees by 2030 to combat erosion and support marine biodiversity.

Tech, Conservation, and Commerce

Saudi Arabia’s blue economy strategy is unique in its blending of marine conservation with high-tech industry. Raed Al-Basseet, Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer at RSG, said, "Enhancing the environment isn’t a cost; it leads to real return on investment." The Kingdom is using AI to monitor coral bleaching, deploying drones for marine enforcement, and testing floating solar panel systems that could help power coastal towns and marine infrastructure.

The integration of technology is also being explored in marine biotechnology, underwater robotics, and aquaculture innovation zones. These developments not only bring investment, but create knowledge-based jobs that support a modern, resilient economy.

Untapped Markets: Fisheries, Aquaculture, Logistics

Beyond tourism and conservation, sectors like fisheries and maritime logistics offer huge potential. Jazan, for instance, is being transformed into a Special Economic Zone with a focus on marine industries. The area currently produces 6,300 tons of fish annually—a figure that could double with enhanced infrastructure and cold-chain logistics.

Private entrepreneurs are beginning to notice. Ahmed Al-Binali, founder of a seafood export startup in Dammam, noted, "With new regulations, funding, and international demand, we’re finally seeing real momentum. Our exports have grown 40% in two years."

Additionally, NEOM’s Oxagon project aims to be the world’s largest floating industrial hub, merging shipping, marine data centers, and green hydrogen production, placing Saudi Arabia at the center of blue-tech innovation.

Investment Gaps and Opportunities

Despite the promise, private investment in the blue economy remains limited. Marine R&D, deep-sea exploration, and sustainable aquaculture are still underfunded. Policymakers and business leaders are urging more venture capital and institutional investors to support the emerging sector.

In the words of Fahd Al-Rasheed, advisor at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City: "The Red Sea and Gulf aren’t just tourist assets—they’re economic accelerators. But we need to scale innovation faster, especially in aquatech, logistics, and ocean clean energy."

Public-private partnerships and blended finance are seen as keys to unlocking this capital. Government incentives are being tailored to attract entrepreneurs and corporates into eco-marine projects, especially in desalination efficiency, underwater robotics, and clean shipping.

The private sector in Saudi Arabia is beginning to show signs of engagement, with marine-focused startups gaining traction. As of 2024, over 40 startups in sectors like aquatech, maritime logistics, and marine AI monitoring have emerged under Monsha’at’s innovation programs. Initiatives such as the Saudi Blue Investment Fund are working to offer seed capital and technical support to founders focused on sustainable marine solutions. However, there is still a wide funding gap, especially at Series A and B stages, where investors remain cautious due to regulatory uncertainties and limited exit opportunities.

Additionally, venture-building platforms and incubators such as KAUST’s Innovation Center and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) are playing a crucial role in nurturing marine-focused enterprises. These institutions have helped commercialize over 25 marine-related technologies in the past five years, yet experts argue that a more coordinated policy and funding pipeline is essential to scale these innovations regionally and globally. With more targeted investment from sovereign wealth vehicles like the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the Kingdom can unlock significant value while leading the MENA region in blue economy entrepreneurship.

Regional and Global Collaboration

To fully harness the blue economy, Saudi Arabia is also looking outward. Collaboration with Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and the UAE on coral reef protection, pollution monitoring, and sustainable shipping corridors is underway. These efforts are critical, as the Red Sea remains one of the world’s most biodiverse and geopolitically significant marine zones.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia recently signed memoranda with France and Norway to share expertise on offshore aquaculture, marine research, and green port management.

Challenges Ahead

Despite ambitious goals, challenges remain:

• Climate Risk: Coral bleaching, overfishing, and water pollution pose ongoing threats.
• Governance Complexity: Balancing development and environmental regulation across agencies and jurisdictions is no small task.
• Skills Gap: The maritime sector needs specialized engineers, marine biologists, and blue economy strategists—fields that remain underdeveloped in Saudi educational institutions.

However, with rapid policy reform, an open investment climate, and a generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, these challenges are surmountable.

Finally, as the world seeks new economic models rooted in sustainability, Saudi Arabia’s blue economy strategy offers a compelling blueprint. It aligns economic growth with ecological preservation, empowers youth with new types of jobs, and opens the Kingdom’s shores to global collaboration and innovation.

By turning its coasts into catalysts for economic transformation, Saudi Arabia is not just diversifying its economy—it’s pioneering a new frontier where prosperity flows with the tide.

Ghada Ismail

When you're in the initial stages of launching a startup—raising money, acquiring users, building product-market fit—thinking about an exit seems too early. But experienced founders know that from the very start, you build not just for expansion, but for a potential finish line.

An exit strategy is your strategy for how you and your investors will ultimately cash out of the business. It determines how stakeholders will harvest the value they've helped create, either by selling the firm, merging with another company, going public, or even closing down.

Let's break down what an exit strategy is, why it's important, and what alternatives startups usually consider.

Why Startups Require Exit Strategies

An exit strategy is not quitting; it's preparing for the transition that is needed. No business is ever a startup forever. Whether your company succeeds, pivots, or tanks, every business trajectory will eventually reach a fork in the road.

what comes next is why it is so essential to have an exit strategy:

•Investor Expectations: Venture capitalists invest with an expectation of return, usually through exits like acquisitions or IPOs.

• Strategic Planning: Having a potential endpoint in mind informs your business decisions along the way.

• Founder Goals: Some founders envision a legacy company, whereas others plan for exit after 5-7 years. Both are doable but necessitate different strategies.

• Risk Management: Exit planning prepares for market downturns or challenges internally before they get out of hand.

Common Types of Startup Exit Strategies

1. Acquisition

An acquisition happens when a larger company buys your startup, either for your product, your team, or your users, or all three.

An acquisition provides liquidity and can be quicker than an IPO. Ex: Facebook buying Instagram.

It is best for startups with differentiated tech, strong growth, or strategic value to larger players.

2. Initial Public Offering (IPO)

Going public via an exchange listing is considered the "final" exit. It has the added benefits of raising funds, increasing visibility, and providing liquidity for investors.

IPOs are rare because they are expensive, heavily regulated, and suitable only for established startups with strong financials.

IPOs are best for high-growth startups in large markets, especially ones with global ambitions.

3. Merger

A merger combines your startup with a different company, typically to share resources, grow faster, or be able to compete more effectively.

It may allow startups to exist in challenging markets or expand better. It works best for startups that desire to benefit from a different firm's capabilities.

4. Management Buyout (MBO)

In an MBO, your firm is purchased by internal parties, generally high-level employees or current executives.

It keeps the company's culture intact and compensates the core team from within.

MBOs are ideal for startups with devoted leadership teams and no external investors anticipating enormous returns.

5. Shutting Down 

Not all exits are glamorous. Sometimes the wisest thing to do is an orderly shut-down; returning outstanding capital, paying off obligations, and closing neatly.

Why it's important: Dying startups can also exit in style, preserving founder reputations and investor relationships.

They work best for startups that can't scale or pivot successfully.

How to Select the Best Exit Strategy?

There is no one-size-fits-all path. The ideal exit strategy will depend on your intentions, your investors' timelines, your market, and your business model.

Below are some questions to guide you:

• Are you creating to sell or to remain?

• What degree of control do you desire over your company long-term?

• How long do you want to remain involved after exit?

• Are your investors requiring a timeline or a specific type of return?

Talking about it upfront—both internally and to investors—can get everyone aligned and eliminate conflict down the road.

When Should You Start Thinking About Exits?

Ideally, before you raise your first Riyal. Exit planning should be on your to-do list from the day you start raising capital or even conceiving your growth strategy.

Even though you don't have an established deadline or guaranteed result, having a direction where you're heading keeps decisions regarding hiring, product development, and investor relations aligned.

The earlier you begin contemplating your exit, the more on your terms you'll be in control of it.

Wrapping things up…

An exit strategy does not mean you're going to exit, but planning in advance. If your desire is to be acquired, merge with a strategic business partner, or develop a sustainable business that can continue without you, knowing how your journey may shift impacts how you build today.

Startups are volatile. But having clarity around your long-term vision gives you and your stakeholders the direction you need to make better decisions, grow on purpose, and exit on your terms.

Noha Gad

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the global economy and transformed the way businesses operate. Companies, especially startups, seized the shift to adopting remote work to cut costs, access global talent, and establish agile and location-independent businesses. Before 2020, remote work was a niche concept for many industries, but lockdowns and social distancing measures proved that teams could remain productive outside traditional offices. This realization, combined with advancements in digital tools, accelerated the rise of remote startups.

A recent report by Robert Half, the global human resource consulting firm, revealed that fully remote jobs have increased from 10% in early 2023 to 15% by the end of 2024. Other studies showed that remote workers are 13-35% more productive than their in-office counterparts.

In 2025, remote startups are no longer an exception; they are becoming the norm. Remote work democratized entrepreneurship and enabled talent from around the world to collaborate and innovate without the constraints of geography. As a result, the entrepreneurship landscape witnessed a significant surge in remote startups that are leaner, more diverse, and often more resilient than their traditional counterparts. 

What are remote startups?

A remote startup is a company that operates entirely or primarily without a physical office. All team members, including founders, engineers, designers, marketers, and support staff, work from different locations, often across time zones. This type of startup relies on digital tools to collaborate, communicate, and build its products or services. 

There are three types of remote startups: fully remote, partially remote, and distributed startups. In fully remote startups, the entire company operates from home, without any physical office space. Meanwhile, partially remote startups require some team members to be based in a physical office while other members work remotely. 

The distributed startup is a company that is physically based in one location, but employees are working remotely from all over the world.

Benefits of remote work

Remote work mode offers multiple advantages for both startups and employees. For startups, remote work provides several benefits, such as:

• Access to a global talent pool. Startups can hire specialists from around the world without worrying about geographic boundaries. This diversity fuels creativity and provides insights into international markets.
• Cost saving. Remote work allows startups to reduce expenses related to office space, utilities, commuting, and relocation, and redirect them to R&D, marketing, or scaling operations.
• Flexibility and enhanced productivity. Flexible schedules let employees work during their peak hours, whether they’re night owls or early risers. 
• Enhanced employee satisfaction. Remote work improves work-life balance, reducing burnout and turnover.

Remote work helps employees increase productivity and stay focused on their tasks. Flexible work hours can also contribute to reducing absenteeism, enabling employees to organize their days as they see fit. With less time spent commuting, employees have more time for themselves and can improve the quality of life by optimizing time for exercise, cooking, or simply resting.

Challenges facing remote startups 

Although remote work offers incredible flexibility and global opportunities, it also comes with unique challenges that can make or break a startup. Maintaining company culture is one of the biggest hurdles facing startups as they find difficulty in fostering team cohesion and shared values without physical interaction. Communication challenges, such as misaligned time zones and reliance on written communication, can lead to misunderstandings. Thus, startups must invest in tools and protocols to bridge these gaps.

Another key challenge is managing performance. Startups may find difficulties in monitoring and evaluating remote employee productivity. To address this challenge, they need to set clear KPIs, feedback mechanisms, and project management systems.

Moreover, remote teams increase exposure to security risks and cyber threats. A single unsecured Wi-Fi network could compromise sensitive data, making robust cybersecurity protocols non-negotiable. 

Finally, the rise of remote startups marks a fundamental shift in how businesses are built and operated. As they become the new norm, remote startups are reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape, making it more inclusive, agile, and resilient for the future. This type of startup unlocks global talent, reduces costs, and fosters greater flexibility and productivity, while breaking down geographic barriers.

Kholoud Hussein

As Saudi Arabia and its Gulf neighbors embrace digital transformation, a new breed of tech entrepreneurship is quietly gaining ground: micro—SaaS startups. These are small, often solo-run software businesses that solve very specific problems, generate steady revenue, and require minimal capital or infrastructure. While the spotlight in the region often shines on mega startups and billion-dollar funds, micro-SaaS is carving out its own niche, offering independence, profitability, and scalability on the founder’s own terms.

But what exactly are micro-SaaS startups, and why are they so relevant to Saudi and Gulf entrepreneurs right now?

Micro-SaaS in a Nutshell

Micro-SaaS stands for “Micro Software as a Service.” It refers to cloud-based software products that target a focused, niche audience, and are built and maintained by a single person or small team. Unlike traditional SaaS startups that aim to disrupt entire sectors, micro-SaaS solutions are designed to solve specific problems for specific users.

Why Now? Why in Saudi Arabia and the GCC?

1. Digital Maturity Is Accelerating

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Digital Economy Strategy have laid the groundwork for massive digitization — not only in government and enterprise, but also among SMEs, freelancers, and individual service providers. This creates a fertile ground for software tools that meet localized, underserved needs.

2. Low-Code and No-Code Accessibility

With tools like Bubble, FlutterFlow, and Tilda, even non-technical founders in Riyadh, Jeddah, or Manama can now build and launch micro-SaaS platforms without needing a full development team. This democratizes innovation.

3. Cultural Shift Toward Freelancing & Remote Work

The rise of the freelance visa in the UAE, the growth of self-employment platforms in KSA (such as Freelance.sa), and the increasing interest of youth in passive income are driving founders to explore side projects, and micro-SaaS fits perfectly into this new work culture.

4. Investor Fatigue with Scale-at-All-Costs Startups

As the venture capital market cools globally, micro-SaaS presents a sustainable alternative, requiring no VC capital, growing through user feedback, and often reaching profitability within months.

Localized Micro-SaaS Ideas That Work

Here are a few regionally relevant micro-SaaS concepts:

• Prayer Schedule Widgets for mosques and Islamic centers, with donation integrations.
• Invoice Generators for freelance graphic designers or translators with bilingual templates.
• Real Estate CRM Tools for brokers operating in smaller cities or new developments.
• Custom Fleet Maintenance Dashboards for SMEs running logistics vehicles in remote areas.
• Social Media Caption Generators for Arabic-speaking influencers and brands.
• Online Training Portals for family businesses training their staff in customer service.

Real Barriers 

Despite the appeal, micro-SaaS startups face distinct challenges in the region:

• Payment gateways: Stripe isn’t fully supported in all GCC countries. Alternatives like PayTabs, HyperPay, and Tamara offer solutions but require integration effort.
• Language & UX gaps: English-only platforms don’t always resonate in Tier 2 or 3 Saudi cities. Arabic-first UI/UX is often the key to market fit.
• Regulatory clarity: Unlike bigger startups, micro-SaaS founders often lack access to legal help. Government support via Monsha’at or Bahrain’s Startup Bahrain initiative can help with licensing, taxation, and compliance.

From Local Niche to Global Reach

The beauty of micro-SaaS is location independence. A founder in Tabuk or Sharjah can sell to clients in Canada or Malaysia. The product may start as a tool for a GCC-specific need, but scale globally with small adjustments.

Platforms like Product Hunt, Gumroad, and AppSumo allow micro-SaaS founders from the region to promote, validate, and monetize internationally, without needing to relocate or raise funds.

Micro-SaaS as a Path to Freedom

For many aspiring founders across the Gulf, success isn’t about unicorn status — it’s about freedom. Freedom to build a business that pays the bills, scales modestly, and creates real value for real people.

Micro-SaaS offers just that — a way to own your time, your product, and your future. In a region where ambition meets rapid digital change, this movement may quietly become the next wave of meaningful, sustainable tech entrepreneurship.

Noha Gad

Saudi Arabia’s sports sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation fueled by ambitious investments and strategic initiatives aligned with Vision 2030. The value of this rapidly expanding market is expected to triple by 2030, driven by major infrastructure projects, hosting global events like the FIFA World Cup 2034, and the growing emphasis on grassroots development and professional leagues. 

Sports technology platforms, such as Grintafy, play a pivotal role in advancing this evolving sector. By leveraging innovative tools like AI analytics, blockchain, and fintech solutions, Grintafy empowers amateur players, clubs, and scouts with data-driven insights and seamless connectivity.

Guided by a clear mission to democratize talent discovery and build Saudi Arabia’s future football stars, Grintafy envisions the Kingdom as a global beacon of sports excellence. Its vision is realized through strategic collaborations with key stakeholders, including clubs, federations, and cutting-edge Web3 innovators, enabling the platform’s expansion across the MENA region and beyond.

Sharikat Mubasher held an interview with Founder and CEO, Majdi Allulu, to discover more about Grintafy’s business model, regional and global expansions, as well as its strategy to position Saudi Arabia as a global sports hub. 

What was the driving force behind launching Grintafy, and what is its core mission in Saudi Arabia?

Grintafy was founded and driven by the ambition to “level the playing field” for amateur footballers by enabling them to build their football CVs, rate performances, organize games, and connect with scouts and clubs. 

The core mission in Saudi Arabia is to democratize talent discovery, support Vision 2030’s goals, and serve as a launchpad for the national team’s next generation.

How does Grintafy set itself apart from other talent-scouting platforms regionally and globally?

• Scale: With nearly 2.5 million registered users across the Middle East, Grintafy stands as the region’s largest talent discovery platform. 
• Comprehensive features: It offers a full ecosystem—organizing games, performance ratings, CV building (“Grinta Card”), messaging, live streaming, and fintech payments like in-app “G-coins” 
• Web3 capabilities: Strategic investment by Chiliz and Adaverse positions Grintafy at the forefront of using blockchain for transparent player ratings, performance certification, and engagement.

How do you utilize emerging technologies like AI or data analytics to enhance talent discovery?

The platform already harnesses AI and machine learning to support live-streaming features and performance analysis. We have the plans to use AI-driven analytics to elevate scouting accuracy, refine player rankings, and extract deeper insights from performance data.

With Saudi Arabia set to host the FIFA World Cup 2034, how will Grintafy contribute to preparing local talent for this global stage?

Grintafy aims to be instrumental in preparing Saudi talent for the global stage by:

• Continuously identifying emerging local players through its platform and scouting network.
• Aligning with Vision 2030, with investors like Wa’ed emphasizing the goal of discovering the “future Saudi National Team” on Grintafy.
• Expanding development initiatives, grassroots tryouts, and performance tracking programs designed to elevate player readiness by 2034.

How will your recent partnership with Resal empower Saudi sports talents? And are there other strategic partnerships in the pipeline to further Grintafy’s mission? 

The recent Resal partnership integrates loyalty rewards with Grintafy: athletes earn digital incentives through performance and engagement, driving motivation and sustained development.

We have several regional and global partnerships in the final stages of completion. This includes international clubs and leagues. 

What are Grintafy’s strategies to expand within and beyond Saudi Arabia? 

• Regional expansion: Active in Egypt since 2021—with partnerships with West Ham United, the Egyptian Ministry of Youth & Sports, Cádiz CF—and planning to expand further across MENA.
• International push: Supported by investors like Chiliz and Adaverse, aiming to connect Saudi talent with European and South American football ecosystems.

How do you assess the current state of Saudi Arabia’s sports ecosystem? And how did government initiatives support the sector?

The Saudi sports ecosystem is rapidly evolving, heavily fueled by Vision 2030 initiatives focused on national sports development, infrastructure, and private sector engagement. Government support is substantial—from funding early-stage sportstech ventures (like Wa’ed backing Grintafy), to incentivizing Web3 innovation and international talent initiatives, strongly supportive of platforms like Grintafy.

What is Grintafy’s long-term vision for shaping Saudi Arabia as a global sports hub?

Grintafy envisions Saudi Arabia emerging as a globally competitive sport—and especially football—hub by:

• Empowering grassroots development and bridging amateur players to professional opportunities.
• Integrating advanced Web3 and AI tools to set global standards for talent discovery.
• Fostering global partnerships that ensure Saudi players are scouted and play internationally.
• Feeding homegrown talent into national teams, championships, and global leagues, thereby reinforcing the Kingdom as a center of sports excellence.

In preparation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, Grintafy focuses on identifying and developing local talent through performance tracking, trials, and organized matches, aiming to build a strong generation of Saudi players ready to compete internationally.

The platform utilizes advanced technologies such as AI analytics, live streaming, fintech payments, and blockchain credentials to enhance talent discovery and ensure transparent, secure player data management.

Finally, innovations in sports tech and infrastructure are backed by Vision 2030 and the government's support to accelerate technology adoption, empowering platforms like Grintafy to elevate Saudi Arabia as a global sports hub.