Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Size:
Saudi Arabia aquaculture market to surpass US$238.999 million by 2030, at a 5.30% CAGR from US$184.609 million in 2025.
Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Key Highlights:
- The expanse of the aquaculture market in Saudi Arabia has grown owing to the increased consumption of seafood with an increasing population and disposable income levels.
- The government is supporting the sector with financial assistance as well as creating structures for the efficient growth of aquaculture.
Aquaculture is viewed as the most important solution to meet this demand and improve food security, as it reduces dependence on imports and has the potential to save the country’s foreign exchange. This becomes imperative that Saudi Arabia increases its domestic seafood production to meet the growing demand, leading to growth in the market.
Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Overview
| Report Metric |
Details |
| Study Period |
2021 to 2031 |
| Historical Data |
2021 to 2024 |
| Base Year |
2025 |
| Forecast Period |
2026 – 2031 |
& Scope
The Saudi Arabia Aquaculture market is segmented by:
- By Type: The Saudi aquaculture market by type is dominated by shrimp, which benefits from large-scale farming projects along the Red Sea coast and strong demand both domestically and for export. Tilapia is a widely farmed species due to its adaptability, affordability, and popularity among local consumers.
- By Production System: Based on the production systems, pond-based farming of tilapia is the most prominent method, which is supported by the production system of cost-effectiveness and scalability in the climate of Saudi Arabia. Aquaponics is becoming popular as a viable solution as a sustainable system fusing fish and plant farming, attractive to urban and environmentally-conscious development. Others, such as cage culture and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), are also under test with regard to their appropriateness in Saudi conditions.
- By End-User: According to the end-users, the market is influenced by the largest segment (commercial) since most of the production volumes are produced by large-scale aquaculture farms, specifically shrimp and tilapia.
- By Province: Geographically, Jeddah leads in the aquaculture business due to its strategic position and location in the Red Sea, developed infrastructure, and localization of shrimp farms. Riyadh has a supportive role through inland aquaponics and production of tilapia, where the creation of systems based on technology enables agriculture without a coastline.
Top Trends Shaping the Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market
- Growing Government Initiatives
The aquaculture market in Riyadh is growing fast due to support from the government, which considers it a component of Saudi Vision 2030. This project seeks to develop other sectors, such as aquaculture, since it will allow the country to shift away from relying on oil for its economic needs. In an effort to enhance local production of seafood, MEWA offered subsidies, financing, and other infrastructural investments to help put Saudi Arabia at the forefront of sustainable aquaculture practices. In alignment with Vision 2030, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture developed a dedicated program that aims at reaching 600,000 tons of fisheries products by 2030. Moreover, increasing seafood demand is primarily driven by the growing population in Riyadh. In this regard, as per the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the total population registered in Al-Riyadh in 2022 was 8,591,748 people, where 37.4% were females and 62.6% were males.
- Technological Development
In Saudi Arabia, technological development in aquaculture is gradually becoming more efficient and sustainable. New systems of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and biofloc technology can optimize the production of a variety of fish species in an arid region. These technological innovations allow farming species such as tilapia, shrimp, and grouper to use minimal water inputs while reducing impacts on the environment. This, therefore, suits global sustainability trends.
Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Growth Drivers vs. Challenges
Drivers:
- Increasing demand for seafood products: There is an increase in demand for seafood products in Saudi Arabia because of a growing population, increasing per capita income, health awareness, and a healthy tourism environment. This increase requires a proportional boost in domestic aquaculture production to meet this demand and ensure food security in the region. The population of Saudi Arabia is expected to rise by 43% from 33,264,292 in 2023 to 47,693,910 in 2050 as per World Health Organization (WHO) predictions, thereby creating an increased demand for seafood. Moreover, this will lead to more emphasis on the health benefits of consuming seafood and its rich nutritional value, and also drive an increasing proportion of demand for domestic seafood production.
- Rising shrimp demand: The growing promotion and investment by the Saudi Arabian government in the aquaculture industry is significantly boosting shrimp production and is driving its market demand. For instance, the Saudi government started its first pilot production of shrimp in inland waters in the Tabuk region in 2020 in collaboration with an international company. As part of the Vision 2030 Plan by the Saudi Arabian government, the strategic investment to develop the aquaculture sector five-fold by 2030 will be the major factor driving the market growth of Shrimp. Shrimp production in Saudi Arabia constitutes the largest share among other types of aquacultures. As per the data by the Saudi Statistical Authority, the total output of aquaculture in 2030 is approximately 139,900 tons of which 66,400 tons is only Shrimp, highlighting the share constituted by the Shrimp. Shrimp will hold the largest market segment in the aquaculture market by type. The government's significant investment in the aquaculture market will drive the growth of the shrimp market, and when coupled with the growing demand for shrimp in the region, it will propel the market in the forecast period.
Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Competitive Landscape
The market is fragmented, with many notable players:
- Company Partnership: In April 2025, NEOM, the sustainable regional development in northwestern Saudi Arabia, has partnered with Tabuk Fisheries Company to establish an aquaculture company.
Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Segmentation:
- By Type
- By Production System
- Aquaponics
- Hydroponics
- Aeroponics
- By End-User
- By Province