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Stationery and bookshop feasibility study

Latest regulatory change: 2025 · reviewed 2026-11-05

A shop selling school and office supplies, with printing, photocopying and student services.

  • SAR 3.4 billionStationery and school supplies market, 2024[4]
  • 5,000Bookshops and specialist shops in Saudi Arabia (estimate)[2]
  • 6.5 millionStudents in general education[5]

Latest regulatory and market changes

  1. 2020A ministerial decision requires outlets selling books, stationery and student services to Saudize 70% of their workforce.[1]
  2. 2024The Ministry of Commerce carried out 3,082 inspection visits in a campaign against substandard products and recorded 57 violations in bookshops and stationery shops.[2]
  3. 2025The Ministry of Commerce announced inspections of bookshops and stationery outlets to check price tags, Arabic product information and the legality of discounts.[3]

Why now

  • More than 6.5 million male and female students in general education return every school year.[5]
  • Spending per student on stationery ranges from SAR 250 to SAR 650 in general education, and is higher at university.[4]

SAR 3.4 billionValue of the stationery and school supplies market in Saudi Arabia in 2024, according to a research report cited by Al Watan.[4]

The idea and business model

A shop selling stationery and school and office supplies, and offering printing, photocopying and student services. Income comes from back-to-school season sales and year-round trade, and from services and supply to offices.

Model: Retail on a fixed site

Project economics

Revenue formula

Daily customers×Average ticket×Trading days weighted for the season

Sales channels

  • In-store sales
  • Printing, photocopying and student services
  • Supply to offices and schools

Largest cost items

  • Stock purchases and seasonal inventory
  • Rent and fit-out
  • Salaries
  • Printing equipment and maintenance

Decisive indicators we measure

  • Back-to-school share of annual sales
  • Inventory turnover
  • Average ticket
  • Service revenue

Relevant authorities

  • Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMAH) via Balady: shop licence
  • Ministry of Commerce: Commercial Registration (CR) and oversight of prices, product information and discounts
  • Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD): 70% Saudization rate
  • Civil Defence: safety certificate

What needs your attention

  • Sales are concentrated in the back-to-school season, so inventory and working capital are decisive.
  • Competition from large retailers and online sales.
  • Inspections of price tags and Arabic product information intensify during peak seasons.

What a Stationery and bookshop study calculates for you

  • Split of sales between the season and the rest of the year
  • Working capital for seasonal stock
  • Effect of proximity to schools and universities
  • Cost of 70% Saudization
  • Monthly sales needed to break even

Every one of these figures appears in your study with its source and date, built on your location and capital, with a clear line between documented facts and assumptions.

Sources

Most sources are Saudi government and press pages in Arabic; titles are kept in their original language so you can find them.

  1. قرار توطين منافذ البيع في 12 نشاطاً اقتصادياًوزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية · 2020-03
  2. 7 مليارات ريال عبر 5 آلاف مكتبة في سوق القرطاسياتالمدينة · 2024-08
  3. «التجارة»: جولات رقابية على المكتبات ومنافذ بيع القرطاسيةعكاظ · 2025-08
  4. 3.4 مليارات ريال قيمة سوق الأدوات المدرسيةالوطن · 2025-08
  5. الأحد.. عودة مليوني طالب من الإدارات المستثناةعكاظ · 2026-08

Last reviewed: 4 November 2026. This page introduces the activity; detailed figures belong in the study.