Saudi Arabia attracts 571 global companies
Saudi Arabia has secured 571 global companies as investors, with the industrial sector now accounting for 30% of the Kingdom’s foreign investment balance. This growth aligns with Vision 2030, which has driven economic reforms and investment expansion.
Most of these companies have set up offices in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial Center. The initiative to establish regional headquarters in the Kingdom gained momentum after Saudi Arabia introduced new regulations in 2021, requiring foreign firms to have a local base to secure government contracts.
Foreign investment activity has surged in recent years. The number of registered investment licenses increased from 4,000 in 2018–2019 to 40,000 today, while total investments have doubled to SR1.2 trillion ($320 billion), making up 30% of the Saudi economy. Seventy-two percent of these investments come from the private sector, while the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and its companies account for 13%.
The industrial sector’s foreign investment balance has grown by 61%, with a surge in licenses granted, primarily for manufacturing industries. These efforts support the National Investment Strategy, which aims to attract and expand industrial investments while enhancing competitiveness, said Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid Al-Falih.
Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, Saudi Arabia’s total foreign investment stock has doubled to SR900 billion ($240 billion). In 2024, the country surpassed SR4 trillion ($1.1 trillion) in GDP, reflecting rapid economic expansion and increased investor confidence.
