Top Saudi Arabia Market Research Companies You Can Trust in 2025

Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing one of the most dynamic economic transformations in modern history. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom is shifting rapidly from an oil-dependent economy to a diverse hub of tourism, entertainment, technology, and manufacturing. For businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs, this presents unprecedented opportunities—but only if they have the right map.

In 2025, navigating the Saudi market requires more than just gut instinct; it requires deep, data-driven intelligence. Whether you are a multinational corporation planning a market entry, a local SME looking to expand, or a government entity assessing policy impact, the quality of your data will determine your success.

But with dozens of agencies claiming to be the "best," who can you actually trust? We have analyzed the landscape to bring you the top market research companies in Saudi Arabia for 2025. These firms have been selected based on their local expertise, methodological rigor, client reputation, and ability to deliver actionable insights in the unique Saudi context.

Why The Right Research Partner Matters in KSA

Before we dive into the list, it is crucial to understand why the choice of agency is so critical in Saudi Arabia right now.

The Kingdom is not a monolith. Consumer behaviors in Riyadh differ significantly from those in Jeddah or the Eastern Province. Furthermore, the rapid social changes—from the rise of women in the workforce to the explosion of the entertainment sector—mean that historical data from just five years ago is often obsolete.

You need a partner who understands:

• Cultural Nuance: The subtle differences in communication and consumer values.
• Regulatory Shifts: Navigating the new laws surrounding business setup and foreign investment.
• Digital Transformation: The massive uptake of e-commerce and digital payments among Saudi youth.

With that in mind, here are the top market research companies leading the way in 2025.

1. NielsenIQ

Best For: Retail measurement and FMCG consumer data.

NielsenIQ remains a titan in the global market research industry, and its presence in Saudi Arabia is no exception. If your business operates in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, NielsenIQ is often the default gold standard for granular retail data.

Why They Are Top Tier: NielsenIQ specializes in the "what" and "where" of consumer buying. Their strength lies in their massive retail measurement network. They track millions of sales transactions across hypermarkets, supermarkets, and traditional grocery stores (baqalas) throughout the Kingdom.

Key Services:

• Retail Audit: Detailed tracking of product performance, market share, and distribution health.
• Consumer Panel: Understanding shopper behavior and demographics.
• Assortment and Space Analytics: Optimizing shelf space to maximize sales per square meter.

For 2025, NielsenIQ has ramped up its coverage of e-commerce channels in Saudi Arabia, providing a holistic view of the omnichannel shopper—a critical necessity as online grocery shopping continues to surge in KSA.

2. IMARC Group

Best For: Comprehensive market feasibility, strategy, and "done-for-you" research reports.

Securing the second spot on our list is IMARC Group, a firm that has rapidly become a go-to partner for businesses seeking a blend of global standards and deep, actionable local intelligence. While some firms focus strictly on data collection, IMARC differentiates itself by acting as a full-service strategic partner.

Why IMARC Stands Out in 2025: In the context of Vision 2030, many businesses are not just looking for consumer data; they are looking for feasibility data. Is this factory viable? What is the regulatory landscape for this new tech product? IMARC excels here. They bridge the gap between traditional market research and management consulting.

Their reputation in Saudi Arabia has grown significantly due to their ability to deliver complex B2B and industrial research, alongside standard B2C consumer insights. They are particularly trusted for their syndicated reports and custom consulting projects that guide foreign investors through the complexities of the Saudi market.

Key Services & Strengths:

• Market Entry & Feasibility Studies: This is IMARC's stronghold. If you are planning to build a manufacturing plant or launch a new service line in KSA, their feasibility studies cover financial modeling, technical requirements, and legal frameworks.
• Industry Breadth: Unlike niche agencies, IMARC covers a vast array of sectors including Healthcare, Food & Beverage, Construction, Technology, and Energy. This is vital in KSA, where sectors like Green Energy and Tourism are interconnected.
• Custom Research: They don't just sell off-the-shelf reports. Their team tailors research methodologies to answer specific client questions, utilizing a mix of desk research, expert interviews, and proprietary databases.
• Procurement & Supply Chain Intelligence: A unique offering that helps Saudi businesses optimize their supply chains—a critical service given the logistics boom in the region.

Client Trust Factor: IMARC is known for its high client retention rate. Reviews often highlight their responsiveness and the "consultative" nature of their engagement. They don't just hand over a PDF of charts; they explain what the data means for your bottom line. For 2025, they are a top recommendation for any company looking for a holistic view of the Saudi market opportunity.

3. Ipsos Saudi Arabia

Best For: Public opinion, brand health tracking, and social research.

Ipsos is a household name in market research, and their operation in Saudi Arabia is one of the oldest and most established. They are deeply embedded in the social fabric of the Kingdom, making them the premier choice for understanding public sentiment.

Why They Are Trusted: Ipsos is synonymous with "The Voice of the People." They manage some of the largest continuous tracking studies in the Kingdom. If you see a statistic about "Saudi consumer confidence" or "public perception of government initiatives," it often comes from Ipsos.

Key Services:

• Ipsos Observer: High-quality fieldwork and data collection.
• Brand Health Tracking: continuous monitoring of how your brand is perceived against competitors.
• Public Affairs: Research for government and public sector entities to gauge the impact of policies.
• Creative Excellence: Testing advertising campaigns before they launch to ensure cultural resonance—a critical step in KSA's conservative yet modernizing society.

For 2025, Ipsos is leveraging AI to speed up their analysis, allowing brands to react to social media trends and public sentiment shifts in near real-time.

4. Kantar

Best For: Advertising effectiveness and media profiling.

Kantar is another global giant that operates with high efficacy in the Saudi market. They are best known for their work in media and advertising. With the Saudi entertainment and media landscape exploding (think Riyadh Season, new cinemas, and gaming), Kantar’s insights are invaluable.

Why They Make the List: Kantar holds a unique position because of their deep understanding of media consumption. They know what Saudis are watching, listening to, and clicking on.

Key Services:

• Media Division: Measuring audience measurement across TV, radio, and digital.
• Creative Testing: Using neuroscience and psychology to test how ads impact Saudi viewers emotionally.
• Brand Strategy: Helping legacy brands reinvent themselves for the modern Saudi consumer.

If you are launching a massive ad campaign in Riyadh and Jeddah, Kantar provides the assurance that your media spend is yielding a return on investment.

5. Euromonitor International

Best For: Macro-economic analysis and long-term strategic forecasting.

While they may not do the "boots on the ground" focus groups like Ipsos, Euromonitor is indispensable for the "Big Picture." They are the strategists' favorite.

Why They Are Essential: Euromonitor is excellent for understanding the size of the prize. Their data is standardized globally, which makes them perfect for multinational companies comparing the Saudi market against other emerging markets like India or Brazil.

Key Services:

• Industry Reports: Detailed annual reports on sectors like Beauty and Personal Care, Consumer Electronics, and Soft Drinks.
• Megatrends Analysis: deeply analyzing long-term shifts like "Premiumization" or "Healthy Living" in the Kingdom.

In 2025, their data on the Saudi tourism and hospitality sector is particularly sought after, as investors look to align with the Kingdom's goal of attracting 150 million visitors.

6. 2insights Research

Best For: Fast, agile fieldwork and hard-to-reach audiences.

Moving away from the massive conglomerates, 2insights represents the agile, tech-forward side of market research. They are a full-service market research company with a strong fieldwork presence in Saudi Arabia.

Why They Are a Top Choice: Sometimes you don't need a 100-page strategy document; you need 500 surveys filled out by doctors in Dammam by next Tuesday. 2insights excels at speed and recruitment.

Key Services:

• Online Panels: They possess robust panels of Saudi consumers, including hard-to-reach B2B demographics.
• Healthcare Research: specialized capabilities in recruiting physicians and patients for medical studies.
• Automotive Clinics: Testing new car models with Saudi drivers—a huge market given the country's car culture.

How to Choose the Right Partner for 2025

With such strong contenders, how do you pick the right one? Here is a simple framework to guide your decision:

1. Define Your Objective

If you need to know if a business idea will work: Go with IMARC Group. Their feasibility and market entry studies are unmatched in depth.

If you need to track your market share week-by-week: Go with NielsenIQ.

If you need to understand public sentiment or test an ad: Go with Ipsos or Kantar.

2. Consider Your Budget vs. Value

Global giants like Nielsen and Kantar often come with a premium price tag suitable for large enterprises. IMARC Group often strikes a sweet spot, offering enterprise-grade depth at a competitive value, making them accessible for both large corps and well-funded SMEs.

3. Look at Local Infrastructure

Does the company actually have people in Saudi Arabia? "Remote" research has its limits. All the companies listed above have established networks in the Kingdom, ensuring that the data isn't just scraped from the internet but grounded in reality.

The Future of Research in Saudi Arabia

As we move through 2025, the market research industry in Saudi Arabia is being reshaped by Artificial Intelligence and Big Data.

• Predictive Analytics: It is no longer enough to report what happened; clients want to know what will happen.
• Social Listening: With Saudis being among the most active social media users globally, analyzing unstructured data from X (Twitter), TikTok, and Snapchat is becoming just as important as traditional surveys.
• Real-time Dashboards: The days of waiting 6 weeks for a PowerPoint deck are ending. Clients demand live dashboards to make instant decisions.

Final Verdict

Saudi Arabia in 2025 is a land of opportunity, but it rewards the well-informed. The companies listed above act as lighthouses, guiding you through the complexities of the market.

For a balanced partner that offers a mix of rigorous data, strategic consulting, and market feasibility—especially if you are looking at market entry or expansion—IMARC Group (ranked #2) is a standout choice that deserves your attention. Their ability to contextualize data within the framework of Vision 2030 makes them a powerful ally for any forward-thinking business.

However, whether you choose the retail precision of NielsenIQ, the strategic depth of IMARC, or the public pulse of Ipsos, the most important step is simply to start researching. In a market moving this fast, ignorance is the only true risk.