Foreign investments in Saudi Arabia rose 14% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 2.85 trillion by the end of 2024, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
The table below shows foreign investments in Saudi Arabia since 2007:
Foreign Investments in Saudi Arabia*
Period
Value
(SAR bln)
YoY Change
(SAR bln)
Change (%)
2007
455.91
—
—
2008
494.59
+38.68
+8%
2009
520.21
+25.62
+5%
2010
533.74
+13.54
+3%
2011
550.58
+16.84
+3%
2012
570.45
+19.88
+4%
2013
600.86
+30.41
+5%
2014
625.11
+24.25
+4%
2015
712.69
+87.58
+14%
2016
895.05
+182.36
+26%
2017
1021.51
+126.45
+14%
2018
1204.62
+183.11
+18%
2019
1461.23
+256.61
+21%
2020
1675.89
+214.66
+15%
2021
2020.58
+344.69
+21%
2022
2141.62
+121.04
+6%
2023
2492.5
+324.1
+15%
2024
2853.4
+360.9
+14%
Following is a table of quarterly development of foreign investments in Saudi Arabia:
Foreign Investments in Saudi Arabia*
Period
Value (SAR bln)
YoY Change
Q1 2021
1767.4
—
Q2
1917.2
—
Q3
2016.6
—
Q4
2042.4
—
Q1 2022
2166.4
+23%
Q2
2143.6
+12
Q3
2180.8
+8
Q4
2168.5
+6
Q1 2023
2182.6
+1
Q2
2307.0
+8
Q3
2342.5
+7
Q4
2492.5
+15
Q1 2024
2625.2
+20
Q2
2663.4
+15
Q3
2776.9
+19
Q4
2853.4
+14%
* Data updated based on the new FDI calculation methodology published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Foreign direct investments (FDIs) represent 33%, or SAR 956.4 billion, of total investments.
Portfolio investments, which include equity, investment funds and debt bonds, reached SAR 1.13 trillion. Other investments reached SAR 758.1 billion.
The following table shows the breakdown of foreign investments in 2024:
Details of Foreign Investment
Item
Value (SAR bln)
Ratio (%)
FDIs
956.4
33%
Portfolio investments
1139.0
40%
Equity investment fund shares
483.6
17%
Debt securities
655.4
23%
Other investments
758.1
27%
Loans
332.5
12%
Currency and deposits
331.4
12%
Other dues payable
94.2
3%
Total
2853.4
100%
Foreign investments in Saudi Arabia rose 14% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 2.85 trillion by the end of 2024, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).
The table below shows foreign investments in Saudi Arabia since 2007:
Foreign Investments in Saudi Arabia*
Period
Value
(SAR bln)
YoY Change
(SAR bln)
Change (%)
2007
455.91
—
—
2008
494.59
+38.68
+8%
2009
520.21
+25.62
+5%
2010
533.74
+13.54
+3%
2011
550.58
+16.84
+3%
2012
570.45
+19.88
+4%
2013
600.86
+30.41
+5%
2014
625.11
+24.25
+4%
2015
712.69
+87.58
+14%
2016
895.05
+182.36
+26%
2017
1021.51
+126.45
+14%
2018
1204.62
+183.11
+18%
2019
1461.23
+256.61
+21%
2020
1675.89
+214.66
+15%
2021
2020.58
+344.69
+21%
2022
2141.62
+121.04
+6%
2023
2492.5
+324.1
+15%
2024
2853.4
+360.9
+14%
Following is a table of quarterly development of foreign investments in Saudi Arabia:
Foreign Investments in Saudi Arabia*
Period
Value (SAR bln)
YoY Change
Q1 2021
1767.4
—
Q2
1917.2
—
Q3
2016.6
—
Q4
2042.4
—
Q1 2022
2166.4
+23%
Q2
2143.6
+12
Q3
2180.8
+8
Q4
2168.5
+6
Q1 2023
2182.6
+1
Q2
2307.0
+8
Q3
2342.5
+7
Q4
2492.5
+15
Q1 2024
2625.2
+20
Q2
2663.4
+15
Q3
2776.9
+19
Q4
2853.4
+14%
* Data updated based on the new FDI calculation methodology published by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Foreign direct investments (FDIs) represent 33%, or SAR 956.4 billion, of total investments.
Portfolio investments, which include equity, investment funds and debt bonds, reached SAR 1.13 trillion. Other investments reached SAR 758.1 billion.
The following table shows the breakdown of foreign investments in 2024:
Details of Foreign Investment
Item
Value (SAR bln)
Ratio (%)
FDIs
956.4
33%
Portfolio investments
1139.0
40%
Equity investment fund shares
483.6
17%
Debt securities
655.4
23%
Other investments
758.1
27%
Loans
332.5
12%
Currency and deposits
331.4
12%
Other dues payable
94.2
3%
Total
2853.4
100%
