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Saudi Arabia is undergoing a historic transformation under Vision 2030, with a clear focus on reducing reliance on oil, diversifying the economy, and driving long-term sustainable development. Central to this transformation is the concept of local content, a strategic priority gaining momentum across industries. Although widely cited in policies and procurement regulations, the concept is still often misunderstood by businesses navigating the Saudi market.

India and Saudi Arabia are uniquely positioned to collaborate and create a powerful start-up ecosystem due to their respective economic growth, demographic profiles, and strategic priorities. Both countries have firmly committed to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, making them ideal partners in the global start-up landscape. Their convergence presents a unique opportunity for both countries to leverage each other’s strengths, foster innovation, and accelerate economic transformation.

2024 marks the 20th year of Grant Thornton’s work to monitor and measure the proportion of women occupying senior management roles in mid-market companies worldwide. The Women in Business project has explored what helps and hinders women in the workplace during a period that has offered plenty of challenges. Global mid-market companies have navigated the financial crisis of 2007-08, worked through the pandemic, and currently contend with the impact of geopolitical tension and conflict.

Sustainability has taken centre stage in an era defined by global challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and resource depletion. Across the globe, businesses recognise that their success is intricately linked to their ability to operate in an environmentally responsible and socially conscious manner. Saudi Arabian companies are no exception, and many embrace Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting principles to align with global sustainability goals and reap significant financial and reputational benefits.

In recent years, Saudi Arabia has been undergoing a remarkable transformation across various sectors, and its financial reporting landscape is no exception. As the Kingdom strives to diversify its economy and attract international investments, significant changes have been made to enhance transparency, accountability, and compliance within its financial reporting practices. For businesses operating within or considering entry into this dynamic market, understanding these changes is crucial to staying competitive and building trust with stakeholders. This article guides navigating Saudi Arabia's evolving financial reporting landscape, highlighting key developments and their implications for businesses.

In 2022, Grant Thornton’s Women in Business research has once again tracked the position of women in senior management across the world, and the progress towards gender parity in leadership. In this year’s data, we see mid-market businesses across the world taking decisive action to mould more flexible working practices around the needs of their people. They say that they are prioritising employee engagement and modelling open, inclusive working environments. By so doing, organisations are opening the door to bring female talent into senior positions in greater numbers than ever before.

The stampede of mid-market companies looking to expand internationally continues, despite the added challenges of transport costs and disruptions. The percentage of companies expecting to increase exports in the next 12 months remains high at 45%, while the percentage expecting to increase international revenue has risen 3 percentage points to 44%, according to Grant Thornton International’s Business Pulse.

Whilst tech transformation has been a key driver of change across Saudi Arabia, particularly given its prominence within Vision2030, the accelerated adoption has been prompted by a sudden demand to facilitate remote working in response to the disruption caused by the pandemic. We explore the impact of the tech surge and how this will drive innovation across industries and the wider Kingdom.

Despite the set back caused by the pandemic, the G20 countries continue to act as a launchpad for businesses wishing to penetrate global markets in both a virtual and physical environment. This summarised guide highlights the strategic and commercial value which the G20 countries offer, supporting dynamic businesses to consider reigniting their growth path in new markets, which require diverse solutions, services and new innovative approaches.

For 17 years, Grant Thornton has been tracking the global progress of women in senior management. In this summary report we share the insights from the 2021 study, along with the progress being made across the Gulf, whilst highlighting the thoughts of key leaders.

Women in senior leadership positions pass critical 30% mark despite global pandemic.

We share an overview of the opening address which our leader, Imad Adileh shared at the 2021 Refuel Growth Global Conference

Businesses of all shapes and sizes are trying to carve out a competitive advantage by leveraging digital information. The most cutting-edge companies harness customer preference data for a range of reasons, including to create personalised services and targeted marketing campaigns; to scrutinise employee performance data to drive productivity; and to analyse supply chain information to drive efficiencies. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, with digitised data embedded across business practices.

Global business is facing a wave of disruptive influences that look set to spark the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We explore how the way professionals work is evolving, the leadership skills that will be needed within the dynamic mid-market to thrive, and how organisations can stay competitive in the war for talent and customers in 2030.

Find out how today’s leaders ensure that their businesses can anticipate and overcome cyber risk

Understanding the shifting cyber landscape and mitigate against future attacks