Daily Market Snapshot: December 21, 2025
The tender market in Saudi Arabia on December 21, 2025, presented a notable increase in activity compared to the previous day. A total of 249 new tenders were published, representing a significant rise from the 57 new tenders recorded on December 20. The total announced value for these new opportunities amounts to 32,510,637.17 Saudi Riyals (SAR).
No tenders were closed or awarded on this specific date, indicating a focus on publishing new opportunities rather than concluding existing processes. The average bid window—the typical time suppliers have to prepare and submit their proposals—stands at 11.75 days, providing a standard timeframe for response across the market.
When viewed against the broader trend data, December 21 appears as a moderately active day within a pattern of fluctuating daily volumes. The figure of 249 new tenders sits between the low weekend numbers (often below 100) and the high weekday volumes (frequently exceeding 700) observed throughout November and December.
- New Tenders Published: 249
- Total New Tender Value: 32,510,637.17 SAR
- Tenders Closed: 0
- Tenders Awarded: 0
- Average Bid Window: 11.75 days
Sector Analysis: Direct Procurement Dominates
The sector distribution for December 21 reveals a market heavily oriented toward direct purchasing methods. The 'شراء مباشر' (Direct Purchase) category was by far the most active, accounting for 107 of the day's 249 new tenders. This suggests that a significant portion of procurement activity is being conducted through streamlined, potentially less competitive channels reserved for specific circumstances or lower-value contracts.
General competition ('منافسة عامة') represented the second-largest sector with 60 tenders, indicating a substantial volume of open, competitive bidding processes. The 'Other' category followed with 47 tenders, while Goods procurement accounted for 17, and Consultant Services for 8. This breakdown highlights a procurement landscape where simplified acquisition methods currently lead in volume, though competitive processes remain a core component of the market.
The prominence of direct purchase could reflect end-of-year procurement strategies, urgent operational needs, or contracts falling under specific exemptions from full competitive procedures. Suppliers should note this sectoral focus when aligning their business development efforts with current market opportunities.
- Direct Purchase (شراء مباشر): 107 Tenders
- General Competition (منافسة عامة): 60 Tenders
- Other: 47 Tenders
- Goods: 17 Tenders
- Consultant Services: 8 Tenders
Geographic Distribution of Opportunities
The geographic origin of the tenders published on December 21 is overwhelmingly domestic. Saudi Arabia is the source for 169 of the 249 new tenders, representing approximately 68% of the day's total activity. This underscores the primary focus on the national procurement market.
International opportunities also featured, with the United States being a significant secondary source, accounting for 46 tenders. This indicates cross-border procurement interests or projects with international components. A smaller number of tenders originated from Ethiopia and Bangladesh (5 each), and 4 from 'Gz' (which may represent a specific region or entity code).
This geographic spread suggests that while the core market for suppliers tracking Saudi Arabian portals is domestic, there is a notable subset of opportunities linked to the United States. Suppliers with international capabilities or partnerships may find value in this segment.
Market Context and Weekly Trends
Placing December 21 within the broader trend reveals it as a day of recovery following a weekend low. The 249 new tenders mark a substantial increase from the 57 published on Saturday, December 20, and the 47 on Saturday, December 13. This pattern is consistent with historical data showing significantly lower tender publication volumes on weekends compared to weekdays.
Examining the six-week trend from November 1 to December 23 shows a highly active market. Weekday new tender volumes regularly exceeded 700, with peaks like 876 on December 16 and 869 on December 17. December 21, falling on a Sunday, shows activity that is elevated for a weekend but still below the typical weekday benchmark. The trend data also shows consistent awarding activity on weekdays, which was absent on this particular date.
The average bid window of 11.75 days is a critical metric for suppliers. It defines the typical planning and submission timeline. With no tenders closed or awarded on this day, the market's immediate activity was purely additive, expanding the pool of live opportunities for bidders. Suppliers should monitor the subsequent days in the trend (December 22-23) for the corresponding award decisions that typically follow high publication periods.
- December 21 activity (249 tenders) is above typical weekend lows but below average weekday highs.
- The market shows a consistent pattern of high weekday volume and low weekend volume.
- The provided trend shows a future spike to 508 new tenders on December 22.
- Awarding activity, common on weekdays, was absent on this Sunday.