Khaberni - The official Saudi TV stated that the Kingdom plans to open the financial market to all categories of foreign investors starting from the first of February.
In a step to enhance Riyadh's ambition to transform into a global financial hub, the Saudi Capital Market Authority announced the opening of the main market to all categories of foreign investors for direct investment, starting from the first of February 2026.
The decision represents a fundamental shift in the market's structure, as it has abolished the concept of «qualified foreign investor» and the complex swap agreements system, placing the Saudi market among the most open and transparent markets globally, supported by an increase in international investors' ownership to more than 590 billion riyals ($157.3 billion) by the end of the third quarter of 2025.
Dismantling restrictions and enhancing liquidity
The new regulatory framework, which was approved by the board of the authority, aims to move from a model of «conditional openness» to «comprehensive openness». The foreign non-resident investor is no longer required to meet prior qualification requirements to enter the main market. Additionally, the amendments have abolished the swap agreements system, allowing investors to directly own shares and enjoy all their rights, which is expected to increase liquidity and attract new institutional and individual investments.
The authority clarified in a statement issued on Tuesday that the amendments aim to expand and diversify the base of qualified investors to invest in the main market, thereby enhancing capital flows and raising liquidity levels.
According to the data, international investors' ownership in the financial market exceeded 590 billion riyals by the end of the third quarter of 2025, while their investments in the main market amounted to about 519 billion riyals compared with 498 billion riyals by the end of 2024. The amendments are expected to attract more foreign investments.
This decision is an extension of previous steps, including the authority's adoption in July 2025 of facilities for opening and operating investment accounts for specific categories of foreign investors, as part of a gradual approach aimed at enhancing the confidence of market participants and supporting the local economy.
Saudi Capital Market Authority
The recent amendments align with the authority's phased strategy to open the financial market, to be followed by complementary stages to enhance the status of the Saudi market as an attractive international market for foreign capitals. The authority had launched in October 2025 the project of the regulatory framework for direct foreign investment in the main market through the platform «Insights» and its website, in preparation for adopting the current decision.
