Saudi Arabia's benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) opened sharply lower on Sunday, 1 March 2026, falling by about 5% to around 10,214 points before partially recovering to roughly 10,700 points during the same session. The dip marked the index's lowest level since March 2023.
The single-session intraday drop of nearly 5% was far larger than the routine daily moves seen in the market. Earlier declines in the period were generally milder, ranging between about 0.4% and 1.3%, with closing levels commonly around 10,782 to 11,025 points.
The sharp opening fall came amid heightened regional geopolitical tensions, including reported U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which contributed to increased risk aversion among investors in the Saudi market.
In the trading sessions that followed, price movements were more contained, with several days showing declines of roughly 0.8% to 1.3%. Total market turnover during those sessions was commonly in the range of about SAR 3.4 billion to SAR 4.2 billion.
Why it matters
For residents and investors alike, the swing is a reminder that Saudi equities remain sensitive to regional developments and global sentiment. It is important to note that the drop reflects a market performance change only. No new government platform procedures, service fees, or regulatory steps — such as those handled through Absher, Muqeem, Qiwa, Najiz, Nafath, or Tawakkalna — are associated with the index movement.
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