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

Foreign direct investment inflows into Saudi Arabia reached SR26.6 billion (about $7.0–7.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2026, up 2.4% from SR26.0 billion in the same period a year earlier,

The year-on-year rise in gross inflows came even as net foreign direct investment eased. Net inflows stood at SR23.1 billion in the first quarter, a 2.4% decline from SR23.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025.

Compared with the previous quarter, both measures pulled back sharply. Gross inflows fell 49.9% from SR53.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, while net inflows dropped 51.9% from SR48.0 billion. Such quarter-to-quarter swings are common when large one-off deals shift the totals. The gap between gross and net inflows points to outward investment flows of roughly SR3.5–3.6 billion during the quarter.

Why it matters

The figures land alongside solid overall growth in the wider economy. Real gross domestic product expanded 3.0% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, with oil activities up 2.9% and non-oil activities also up 2.9% — a sign that growth is spread across sectors rather than driven by energy alone.

For residents and business owners, steady foreign investment supports job creation, new companies, and expanded services across the Kingdom. The trend fits the broader push under Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify the economy and attract long-term capital into non-oil sectors.

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