Saudi Arabia’s total investment volume surpassed SR1.5 trillion (USD 400 billion) for the first time in 2025, announced the kingdom’s minister of investment, Khalid Al-Falih, while speaking at the Government Press Conference in Riyadh, highlighting unprecedented growth achieved by the Gulf nation across the financial landscape, with foreign capital inflows playing a central role.
The Kingdom is aiming to attract USD 100 billion in annual foreign direct investment (FDI) by the end of the decade as part of its “Vision 2030” economic diversification plan. While Al-Falih expected the ratio to go up to the range between SR140 billion and SR150 billion in 2025, he also said that this projection represents a five-fold increase from the SR28 billion recorded in 2017, a sign of rising global investor confidence.
The surge in international business activity is further reflected in the number of foreign companies operating in the Kingdom. Al-Falih revealed that licensed foreign firms have reached 62,000, a dramatic increase from just 6,000 in 2016.
Furthermore, the nation has attracted more than 700 regional headquarters for leading global corporations, solidifying its position as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s premier commercial hub. The investment boom has created substantial opportunities for Saudis, with the generation of 800,000 new jobs in the domestic economy, while private sector wages have risen by 45%. Al-Falih further noted that women’s labour force participation has doubled, marking a significant societal shift.
The domestic entrepreneurial spirit remains robust, with the number of active commercial registrations held by Saudi investors reaching 1.86 million by the end of 2025.
Al-Falih also stated that 500,000 Saudis have been employed out of 1.5 million workers in foreign companies, while three major companies have begun automobile manufacturing in the Kingdom.
From February onwards, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) will allow all foreign investors direct access to the “Main Market,” eliminating previous qualification barriers. This follows a period of rapid growth in international participation, with foreign ownership exceeding SR590 billion by Q3 of 2025.
While concluding, Al-Falih termed the Tadawul as “prideworthy,” noting that the entity has entered the prestigious club of the world’s biggest 10 stock markets. While the old restrictions on foreign investors were found to limit market access for all international investors, the upcoming new rules have been designed to be “balanced.”