Tadawul Posts Moderate Gains on Banks, Petrochemicals

The Saudi stock market posted moderate gains in March 2026, with the Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) closing at 12,582 points for the week ending March 21, 2026, up 0.6% for the week. The rise was driven mainly by banking and petrochemical shares after oil prices stabilized.

Earlier in the month, trading was described as modest and corrective following recent gains. On 12 March 2026, the index closed at 12,680 points, down 0.3% on the day but still up 4.8% year-to-date. Performance stayed closely tied to Brent crude trading above USD 85 25%.

Over the first quarter of 2026, TASI rose 7.2%, adding 759 points to close the quarter at 11,250 points, compared with 10,491 points at the end of Q4 2025. Official Saudi Exchange data placed the index at 11,249.54 points at end-Q1, with total market capitalization of about SAR 9.86 trillion and total shares traded worth SAR 291.07 billion in the quarter. Daily trading value in early and mid-March sessions averaged around SAR 8.2 billion in the main market.

Why it matters

As of April 2026, the energy sector, including petrochemicals, makes up around 60% of total market capitalization, while banks and financials contribute about 15–20%. These sectors are the main drivers when the market rises on days of stable or supportive oil prices.

Access to the market has also widened. From 1 February 2026, all categories of foreign investors can trade directly on the Saudi main market after the elimination of the Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) framework, removing prior minimum assets-under-management thresholds and opening the market to global individual and smaller institutional investors through licensed local brokers. The market is accessed through the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), operated by Saudi Tadawul Group and headquartered in King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh. There is no single published flat government fee total costs combine brokerage commissions with regulated exchange, clearing, and Capital Market Authority charges set in basis points of trade value.

---

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