Foreign investor licenses surge 110%; regional HQs hit 780: Minister

Saudi Arabia’s Investment Minister Fahad Al-Saif said licenses issued to foreign investors rose 110% YoY, while the Kingdom is now home to 780 regional headquarters (HQs) of international companies.

Speaking via video link at the BNP Paribas Global Markets Conference in London, Al-Saif said foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Saudi Arabia increased 33% in 2025, reflecting growing investor confidence and continued economic reforms.

He noted that Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product (GDP) has doubled over the past decade, while the domestic economy grew 5.2% in the first half of 2026, as the Kingdom continues to pursue fiscal balance and economic diversification.

The next phase of the national investment strategy will focus on boosting productivity, improving investment quality, and developing integrated industrial clusters linked to global value networks and supply chains, he added.

The strategy also aims to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global economic and capital hub, shifting from investment promotion to attracting capital and ensuring its more efficient investment deployment.

Priority will be given to high-growth sectors, including manufacturing, mining, telecommunications and information technology, transportation and logistics, alongside infrastructure development, digital transformation, and energy transition pathways.

Al-Saif said the depth of Saudi Arabia’s financial markets has exceeded SAR 1.4 trillion. The Ministry of Investment is working to build and develop investment banking capabilities to facilitate transactions, connect investors with decision-makers, and enhance liquidity in financial markets, he added.

He affirmed that Saudi Vision 2030 represents a major turning point in the Kingdom’s journey toward consolidating its position as a global investment hub, connecting international capital with development and investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.