Saudi Market Opens to All Foreign Investors in 2026

Saudi Arabia is moving to open its main stock market to a far wider pool of foreign investors. The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has scrapped the long-standing Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) framework and will allow all categories of foreign investors — both resident and non-resident — to trade directly on the Tadawul main market starting 1 February 2026.

From that date, non-resident foreign investors can invest directly in listed shares and investment products without meeting minimum asset, experience, or institutional qualification thresholds, and without relying on swap arrangements or other intermediary structures that were previously required.

Ownership limits remain in place for now. A single non-resident foreign investor (excluding foreign strategic investors) may not own 10% or more of a listed company's shares or convertible debt instruments, while total foreign ownership in any listed issuer is capped at 49% of issued shares or convertible debt. Foreign strategic investors are exempt from both caps but face a two-year lock-up period during which they cannot sell acquired shares.

The CMA has said these limits are under review, including the possibility of raising or fully removing the 49% cap, with implementation targeted before the end of 2026. As of now, no new cap or removal has been formally enacted.

How access works

Foreign investors will participate through Saudi-licensed capital market institutions — brokerage firms registered with the CMA and connected to Tadawul's trading systems. Account opening and trading are handled through brokerage and bank investment platforms, not through government e-services. Platforms such as أبشر, مقيم, قوى, ناجز, نفاذ, and توكلنا are not used for stock-market foreign ownership permissions.

The reform builds on 2025 amendments that had already allowed certain foreign individuals resident in GCC states, or previously resident with a Saudi investment account, to buy listed shares. The 2026 changes extend that access to all non-resident foreign investors, a step widely seen as deepening the Kingdom's capital markets and supporting its broader economic goals.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving