The total number of investment licenses issued in Saudi Arabia rose 83.4% year on year in the third quarter of the current year to 6,986 licenses, excluding those issued under the campaign to correct the status of violators of the Anti-Concealment Law, as per a report from the Saudi business daily Al-Eqtisadiah.
According to the media outlet’s Financial Analysis Unit, investment licenses have increased 20-fold over the past five years, compared with 351 licenses in the third quarter of 2020.
Since the announcement of “Vision 2030,” the Kingdom’s ambitious economic diversification agenda, in 2016, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have more than quadrupled. They grew by 24.2% in 2024 to SR119.2 billion (USD 31.7 billion), marking the highest value and fastest growth rate in three years. This figure exceeds the annual target of SR109 billion by around 39%.
Construction led among the key sectors in Q3 2025 with 2,583 licenses, reflecting a 143% year-on-year increase. Wholesale and retail trade followed with 1,214 licenses, up 234%, while manufacturing recorded 803 licenses, representing a 34% rise.
Together, these three sectors accounted for roughly two-thirds of all licenses issued during the quarter. Other sectors also posted strong gains, with licenses in accommodation and food services more than doubling to 563. Information and communications rose 52% to 517 licenses, and transportation and storage increased 69% to 314 licenses.
In fact, in terms of attracting FDI inflows, the manufacturing sector led the way, with capital inflow worth SR35 billion (USD 9.3 billion), accounting for 29% of the total. This was followed by wholesale and retail trade (including vehicle repair) and construction, each accounting for 15% of the share at SR18 billion.
Still, sectors including professional, educational and technical activities, agriculture, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, saw year-on-year declines.
Reacting to the latest rise in the tally of investment licenses, the Ministry of Investment said the continued growth reflects Saudi Arabia’s increasing appeal as an investment destination, supported by a stable regulatory framework, business-friendly reforms, and ongoing economic diversification efforts.