Social Development Bank Brings Leaders and Startups Together at DeveGo 2025

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 24 December 2025: The Social Development Bank (SDB) successfully hosted the second edition of DeveGo 2025, a major forum focused on entrepreneurship and modern business practices. The event was held in Riyadh from 21 to 23 December 2025 and brought together government officials, business leaders, global experts, investors, and entrepreneurs from Saudi Arabia and around the world.

The forum was held under the guidance of His Excellency Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development and Chairman of the Social Development Bank’s Board of Directors. DeveGo 2025 focused on building a strong and supportive environment for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Kingdom.

During the opening session, Minister Al Rajhi spoke about the fast growth of entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia. He shared that the country has made strong progress in supporting small businesses and freelancers. He also explained that the Social Development Bank provides more than SAR 8 billion every year to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

Because of this support, jobs created by bank-funded businesses have increased from 12,000 in 2021 to more than 140,000 in 2025, showing how entrepreneurship is helping people find work and improve their lives.

One of the main highlights of DeveGo 2025 was the focus on training and skill development for entrepreneurs. The forum highlighted the Empretec program, led by the Social Development Bank in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

During the event, SDB announced the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, a new program designed to help talented Saudi entrepreneurs grow their businesses and compete in global markets. The launch was attended by H.E. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UNCTAD. The fellowship will offer training, mentoring, and access to international business networks.

Speaking at the forum, Eng. Sultan bin Abdulaziz AlHamidi, CEO of the Social Development Bank, said that DeveGo has become an important national platform. He explained that through strong partnerships, smart funding solutions, and global programs, the bank is helping entrepreneurs at every step of their journey. He added that these efforts support Saudi Arabia’s goal of building a diverse and knowledge-based economy.

Another major achievement of DeveGo 2025 was the signing of 51 agreements during the forum. These agreements aim to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem through new financing programs, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and partnerships with local and international organizations. These steps will help entrepreneurs access both financial support and business guidance.

DeveGo 2025 once again showed Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to supporting entrepreneurs, encouraging innovation, and creating new opportunities for future generations.