Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: The Saudi Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) honored the top five entrepreneurial universities in Saudi Arabia during Biban 2025, the Kingdom’s flagship gathering for startups, SMEs, and innovators.
King Faisal University came in the first place, followed by Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Qassim University, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Umm Al-Qura University, according to a recent statement by Monsha’at.
The ceremony was attended by Majid Al-kassabi, the Minister of Commerce and and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Monsha’at, and Sami Alhussaini, the Governor of Monsha’at.
With the participation of 26 Saudi universities, this initiative recognizes universities that have achieved the highest standards in empowering entrepreneurship within the university ecosystem.
Monsha’at also honored the winners of the University Startups initiative, a national competition gathering university startups from across the Kingdom, aiming to empower youth entrepreneurs and support their projects regionally and globally.
Biban 2025 took place in Riyadh from 5 to 8 November, bringing together startup founders, investors, global CEOs, policymakers, and thought leaders to spark strategic partnerships, unveil new agreements, and create financing, training, and advisory solutions to accelerate the growth of startups and SMEs. It featured more than 85 interactive workshops led by a distinguished group of local and global trainers and experts from various sectors, notably financing, investment, management, marketing, and digital transformation.
The forum also showcased over 10,000 investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and SME owners in the ‘Land of Opportunities’ zone within the Funding and Investment Door.
Biban 2025 featured seven doors designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and SME owners, enabling them to expand and achieve sustainability. The doors are the Enablement Door, the Funding and Investment Door, the E-commerce Door, the Franchise Door, the Startup Door, the Fast-growing Enterprises Door, and the Market Door.
The concepts of the seven doors reflect Biban 2025’s role in strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for entrepreneurial and investment opportunities.