Saudi Arabia reported a 2.4 percent year-on-year increase in foreign direct investment inflows in the first quarter of 2026, reaching SR26.6 billion ($7.1 billion), according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The data, released in GASTAT's latest FDI Statistics bulletin, also showed that FDI outflows surged 50 percent from a year earlier to SR3.52 billion during the three months ending March 31. As a result, net FDI inflows decreased by 2.4 percent annually to SR23.08 billion in the first quarter.
Vision 2030 Driving Foreign Capital
The rise in FDI inflows reflects Saudi Arabia's broader efforts to attract long-term foreign capital under its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to diversify the economy beyond oil revenues. Under the program, the Kingdom targets $100 billion in annual FDI by 2030. GASTAT defines FDI as an investment that reflects a long-term relationship and ongoing interest in economic entities residing in an economy other than the Saudi economy. The authority added that the foreign investor, individually or as a group, must own 10 percent or more of the voting power of shareholders' equity to exercise control or influence over decision-making.
Regulatory Reforms and New Investment Law
Saudi Arabia has continued to strengthen its investment environment through regulatory reforms, opening sectors including tourism, renewable energy, technology, and logistics to greater foreign participation. These reforms are part of Vision 2030, which seeks to increase FDI's contribution to gross domestic product from 3.8 percent to 5.7 percent while positioning the nation as a global investment hub. The Kingdom has also introduced a new Investment Law to strengthen investor protections, simplify licensing procedures, and ensure equal treatment for local and foreign investors, reinforcing efforts to attract international capital across strategic sectors.
