Short answer: the best software development companies in Saudi Arabia are not one list that suits everyone. A ministry digitising a national service, a bank fighting fraud, a retailer that needs an online store and a delivery app, and a mid-size distributor replacing spreadsheets with an ERP all need very different partners. The best company for you is the one that has built and run something close to your project, works under a Saudi entity, gives you ownership of your code and data, and stays to support the system after launch. This guide gives you the criteria, nine real and active companies to compare, a comparison table and the questions to ask before you sign.
Disclosure: this guide is written by S-Plus, which is one of the companies listed. Every other company is described only from its own website or public profiles. The list is not a ranking.
How to choose a software development company in Saudi Arabia
Software projects rarely fail because of the programming language. They fail because the scope was vague, nobody owned the decisions, the code was locked in the vendor's hands, or support disappeared after launch. Use the criteria below to test every candidate.
1. Projects and products they run themselves
A company that builds and operates its own software has to live with its architecture, security and support every day. Ask what products the company runs, not only what it has delivered for others. Live systems you can try are stronger proof than slides.
2. A Saudi entity and a local team
A registered presence in the Kingdom makes contracts, invoicing and accountability simpler, and a local team understands how Saudi users, approvals and regulations work. Ask where the project manager and the developers actually sit.
3. Contracts, code ownership and data
The contract should state that you own the source code, the database and the design files once you pay, and that you receive repository access. Ask where your data will be hosted and how the company handles personal data under the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL).
4. Integrations that matter in the Kingdom
Most business systems in Saudi Arabia have to talk to something else: ZATCA e-invoicing (Fatoora), local payment gateways and Mada cards, shipping companies, accounting software or an existing ERP. Ask which of these the company has already integrated.
5. Process, QA and security
Look for a clear process: discovery, UX design, development in short sprints with demos, testing, launch and handover. Ask how they test (automated and manual), how they review code, and which security practices they follow. Organisations with regulatory obligations should also ask about the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) controls that apply to them.
6. Arabic and English quality
Right-to-left layouts, Arabic search, Hijri and Gregorian dates and bilingual content are not details. Ask to see Arabic screens from previous work, on mobile as well as desktop.
7. Support after launch
Ask for a written support agreement: response times, who fixes bugs, how updates are released, and who hosts and monitors the system. Software that nobody maintains loses value quickly.
8. Transparent pricing and references
A good proposal breaks the cost into phases and shows what each phase delivers. Ask for references you can call, ideally from a client with a similar project size.
| Checklist item | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Products they run | Live systems you can try, not only case studies |
| Local presence | Saudi entity, named project manager, reachable team |
| Ownership | Source code, database and designs transferred to you |
| Integrations | Experience with ZATCA, payment gateways, ERPs |
| Process and QA | Sprints with demos, written test plans, code reviews |
| Arabic quality | Proper RTL screens on mobile and desktop |
| Support | Written response times, hosting and monitoring plan |
| Pricing | Phased proposal with clear deliverables |
The best software development companies in Saudi Arabia: 9 to shortlist
The list mixes national technology companies that serve government and large enterprises with focused software houses that suit growing businesses. S-Plus is first because it is our company; the others are in no particular order. We confirmed that each official website is live and that each company is based in the Kingdom.
1. S-Plus
- City: Jeddah, with a second office in Cairo, Egypt.
- Known for: a digital agency with more than 15 years of work and 500+ projects that builds web systems and portals, e-commerce platforms, ERP and internal systems, Flutter mobile apps, APIs and integrations such as ZATCA e-invoicing and payment gateways, with UI/UX, QA and managed hosting. S-Plus builds and runs its own products: Commera, an e-commerce SaaS platform, and Sellify, an ERP for pharmacies and pharmaceutical distribution.
- Website: S-Plus software development in Saudi Arabia
- Best for: small and mid-size companies that want one partner to design, build, host and support a custom system, store or app.
2. Elm
- City: Riyadh.
- Known for: a Saudi company that describes itself as a leader in secure, innovative solutions for the public and private sectors, with a wide range of digital services and products.
- Website: elm.sa
- Best for: government and large enterprise programmes that need secure digital services at national scale.
3. Thiqah
- City: Riyadh.
- Known for: smart solutions built on digital technologies and new business models, and business solutions covering operational, professional and digital services. Thiqah became part of Elm in 2025.
- Website: thiqah.sa
- Best for: public entities and large organisations looking for end-to-end digital business services.
4. solutions by stc
- City: Riyadh.
- Known for: the IT services arm of the stc group, covering cloud, cybersecurity, managed services and IT operations, alongside digital solutions for businesses and government.
- Website: solutions.com.sa
- Best for: enterprises that need cloud, infrastructure and security delivered at scale.
5. Ejada
- City: Riyadh.
- Known for: enterprise applications including ERP, data and analytics, mobility and customer experience, cloud, infrastructure and IT operations, cybersecurity and pre-built solutions.
- Website: ejada.com
- Best for: organisations implementing ERP and enterprise platforms.
6. Tamkeen Technologies
- City: Riyadh.
- Known for: a semi-governmental IT company providing digital transformation and technology solutions to the public sector, including software development, cloud and cybersecurity.
- Website: tamkeentech.sa
- Best for: public-sector digital transformation projects.
7. Mozn
- City: Riyadh, with an office in Dubai.
- Known for: enterprise AI for high-assurance sectors such as financial institutions and government, including its FOCAL platform for fighting financial crime and OSOS for Arabic enterprise knowledge.
- Website: mozn.ai
- Best for: banks, fintechs and regulated organisations that need AI for fraud, compliance or knowledge search.
8. WAKEB
- City: Riyadh.
- Known for: artificial intelligence, machine learning, data and smart applications, plus customised software and advanced technology solutions in the Kingdom.
- Website: wakeb.tech
- Best for: organisations starting data and AI projects.
9. Whetstonez Technologies
- City: Jeddah.
- Known for: a Jeddah software house that its website says has worked since 2012, building custom software, mobile apps, websites and AI solutions for Saudi companies.
- Website: whetstonez.com
- Best for: businesses in the Western Region that want a custom app or system from a local team.
Comparison table
| Company | City | Main services | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-Plus | Jeddah and Cairo | Custom systems, e-commerce, ERP, Flutter apps, integrations, hosting | SMEs wanting one partner from build to support |
| Elm | Riyadh | Secure digital solutions and services | Government and enterprise at scale |
| Thiqah | Riyadh | Smart and business solutions | Public entities and large organisations |
| solutions by stc | Riyadh | Cloud, cybersecurity, managed IT | Enterprise infrastructure |
| Ejada | Riyadh | ERP, enterprise apps, data, cloud | ERP and enterprise platforms |
| Tamkeen Technologies | Riyadh | Public-sector digital transformation | Government projects |
| Mozn | Riyadh | Enterprise AI, financial crime | Banks and regulated sectors |
| WAKEB | Riyadh | AI, data, smart applications | Data and AI projects |
| Whetstonez | Jeddah | Custom software, apps, websites | Local custom builds |
Typical projects and what drives the cost
We do not quote prices in this guide; the scope decides them. These are the most common project types in the Kingdom and the factors that move the budget.
Common project types
- Web systems and portals: customer portals, booking systems, internal dashboards.
- ERP, CRM and internal systems: sales, inventory, accounting, HR and approvals in one place.
- E-commerce platforms: a custom store, or a store on a platform with custom integrations. Our comparison of a SaaS platform versus a custom store helps you decide.
- Mobile apps: customer apps, delivery apps and apps for field teams. See our mobile app development guide.
- SaaS products: a startup or company turning its know-how into a subscription product.
- Integrations: ZATCA e-invoicing, payment gateways, shipping and accounting systems.
What drives the cost
- The number of user roles, screens and business rules.
- Integrations with government platforms, payment gateways or an existing ERP.
- Platforms: web only, or web plus iOS and Android apps.
- Custom UX design versus adapting an existing design system.
- Data migration from old systems and spreadsheets.
- Security, compliance and hosting requirements, including where data must live.
- Support level after launch and the expected number of users.
For a deeper look at when custom code is worth it, read our guide to custom software development.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Have you built and run a system close to ours? Can we try it?
- Who will be our project manager, and where is the development team based?
- Do we own the source code, database and designs, and when do we get repository access?
- Where will our data be hosted, and how do you handle personal data under the PDPL?
- Which integrations in our scope have you done before, such as ZATCA or a payment gateway?
- How do you test, and what does acceptance look like at the end of each phase?
- What is included in support after launch, and what are the response times?
- How do you handle change requests and their cost?
- Can we speak to a client with a project of similar size?
Related guides
- Best software development companies in Egypt
- Best web design companies in Saudi Arabia
- Best digital marketing agencies in Saudi Arabia
- Best programming languages for web development
Frequently asked questions
What is the best software company in Saudi Arabia?
There is no single best company for every project. National companies such as Elm or solutions by stc suit large government and enterprise programmes, while focused software houses suit custom systems for growing businesses. Judge any candidate on similar work you can try, products it runs itself, a Saudi presence, code and data ownership, integration experience and written support. S-Plus meets these criteria with a Jeddah office, its own platforms Commera and Sellify, and in-house hosting and support, but the right choice is the one whose answers fit your project best.
Should I hire a large company or a small software house?
Large companies bring capacity and governance for big programmes. Smaller software houses usually move faster and give senior attention to mid-size projects. Match the company's size to your project, and ask who will actually do the work.
Is it better to build custom software or use a ready-made system?
Ready-made software is faster and cheaper when your process is standard. Custom software pays off when your process is your advantage or when no product fits. Many companies combine both: a platform for the standard parts and custom integrations around it.
How long does a custom software project take?
It depends on scope. A focused first version can be delivered in a few months, while large systems are delivered in phases over a longer period. Ask for a phased plan where each phase delivers something usable.
Does the software company need to handle ZATCA e-invoicing?
If your system issues invoices to customers in Saudi Arabia, it has to support ZATCA's e-invoicing requirements, either itself or through an integrated accounting system. Ask the company which approach it recommends and whether it has built it before.
Who should own the source code?
You should, once the agreed payments are made. Make sure the contract states it and that you receive full repository access and documentation.
Talk to S-Plus
If you are planning a custom system, an e-commerce platform or a mobile app in the Kingdom, see our software development services in Saudi Arabia. Share your idea and current tools, and our Jeddah team will reply with a phased plan and a clear scope. Contact S-Plus to start.
