Saudi FDI Inflows Rise 2.4% to SR26.6bn in Q1

Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Saudi Arabia reached SR26.6 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a 2.4% increase compared with SR26.0 billion in the same period a year earlier,

Net FDI inflows, however, edged down 2.4% year-on-year to SR23.1 billion, from SR23.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025. The softer net figure reflected a sharp rise in outward investment, with FDI outflows climbing around 50% to roughly SR3.5 billion, up from about SR2.3 billion a year earlier.

Measured against the previous quarter, the numbers show a clear seasonal pullback. Gross FDI inflows fell about 49.9% from SR53.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, while net inflows dropped around 51.9% from SR48 billion. Outflows also declined about 31.8% quarter-on-quarter.

Why it matters

The figures land alongside continued economic expansion. Saudi Arabia's real GDP grew 3% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, with both oil and non-oil activities each rising 2.9%. Steady non-oil growth is a central goal of rؤية السعودية 2030 and remains a key indicator for residents and businesses tracking the wider economy.

For the community across الرياض, جدة and other cities, sustained foreign investment supports job creation, new projects and business activity. The latest data points to gradual growth in gross inflows over the year, even as net inflows are compressed by faster-growing outward investment and a strong comparison base from the final quarter of 2025.

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