Entrepreneurship and Industrial Development in Egypt and Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Analytical Study

الملخص

Entrepreneurship has increasingly become a transformative force for industrial development, particularly in emerging economies seeking to diversify and move toward knowledge-based production. In the Arab region, the nexus between entrepreneurial activity and industrial growth has gained strategic importance as countries seek to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons and navigate global technological disruption. This comparative study examines Egypt and Saudi Arabia between 2010 and 2024, analyzing how policy reforms, innovation ecosystems, and socio-economic shifts have shaped their industrial structures and entrepreneurial dynamics. Drawing on data from the World Bank (2024), GEM (2024), UNIDO (2023), and OECD (2023), the study finds that Saudi Arabia’s transformation is driven by state-centered investment frameworks and technological localization under Vision 2030, while Egypt’s trajectory is grounded in grassroots entrepreneurial resilience, manufacturing flexibility, and labor-driven competitiveness. The paper argues that a hybrid regional model—leveraging Saudi capital and industrial infrastructure with Egyptian entrepreneurial density and manufacturing adaptability—offers an optimal pathway toward sustainable Arab industrial renaissance. Recommendations include cross-border innovation hubs, unified SME policies, green-tech cooperation, and institutionalized research partnerships.