Foreign Investors Get Direct Tadawul Access in Feb 2026

Saudi Arabia is opening its Main Market on the Tadawul stock exchange to direct access for all categories of foreign investors from 1 February 2026, removing the previous Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) route and the swap-based workaround that many overseas investors had relied on.

Under the new framework overseen by the Saudi Capital Market Authority, the old QFI eligibility conditions no longer apply. This includes the previous minimum of USD 500 million in assets under management, which has been scrapped for Main Market access.

To invest, foreign investors open an account with a Saudi broker or custodian licensed by the Capital Market Authority, complete standard Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, and obtain a National Investor Number (NIN) through the broker and the Edaa investor registration process. Once the account is funded, investors can trade on Tadawul. The route runs through licensed Saudi brokers and Edaa — no other government app or portal is required for opening a stock-market account.

Ownership limits and trading hours

Foreign ownership caps remain in place. A single non-resident foreign investor may not hold more than 10% of a listed company, and total foreign ownership may not exceed 49% of a company's shares.

Tadawul trades Sunday to Thursday, with a pre-open session from 9:30 to 10:00 AST, continuous trading from 10:00 to 15:00, and a closing auction from 15:00 to 15:10.

For residents and expatriates in the Kingdom, the change simplifies how foreign capital can participate in the local market, cutting out the intermediary structures that previously limited access to large institutions. It marks another step in widening participation in Saudi Arabia's capital markets.

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