Saudi FDI Inflows Rise 2.4% to SR26.6bn in Q1 2026

Gross foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Saudi Arabia reached SR26.6 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a 2.4% year-on-year increase from around SR26.0 billion in the same period of 2025. The figures reflect continued interest from international investors in the Saudi market.

While gross inflows edged up, net FDI inflows — calculated after subtracting outward investment — stood at about SR23.1 billion in Q1 2026, a 2.4% decline compared with roughly SR23.7 billion a year earlier. The gap is explained by a rise in outward flows.

Saudi outward FDI flows climbed to about SR3.5 billion in the first quarter, up by roughly 50% year-on-year. That put the share of outward flows at close to 13% of gross inflows during the quarter.

On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the numbers softened. Gross inflows fell about 49.9% from around SR53.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, while net inflows dropped about 51.9% from around SR48 billion. Such quarter-to-quarter swings are common in investment data, which can be shaped by the timing of large deals.

Why it matters

For residents, expats, and business owners across the Kingdom, sustained FDI is a key indicator of economic momentum under رؤية السعودية 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and expand the private sector. Higher investment activity can support job creation, new projects, and business opportunities in cities such as الرياض, جدة, and الدمام.

These are aggregated macroeconomic figures and do not carry any per-investor fees or validity periods. Licensing costs, durations, and procedures for individual foreign investors fall under the investment licensing and company registration frameworks of وزارة الاستثمار and related commercial registration authorities, which are separate from these quarterly totals.

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