Saudi Arabia had 7,746 factories with SAR 1 tln investments in 2016

Saudi Arabia added 739 factories by the end of 2016 bringing the total to 7,746 with a total investment of over SAR 1.1 trillion, data from the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources showed.

They had a total workforce of over 1 million employees.

Domestic factories accounted for 83 percent, or 6,447 of the total number of factories, while foreign facilities accounted for 626. Joint investments stood at 673.

Over the last decade, the number of factories in the Kingdom grew 60 percent from 4,842. Labor force more than doubled from 495,000 in 2007.

Total investments in these plants – both fixed and working capital – also exceeded SAR 1.1 trillion from SAR 404 billion over the last ten years.

In terms of activity, non-metal industries were the most attractive for investors, with 1,617 facilities, or 21 percent of total operating factories.

Manufactured metal products followed with 1,109 plants and total investments of SAR 119 billion.

Factories producing plastics and rubber products came third with 1,034 units across the Kingdom, the data added.