GAC issued no-objection for 76 applications during Q2 2026
The General Authority for Competition (GAC) received 112 economic concentration applications during the second quarter of 2026, up 29% from the same period last year. 
The authority issued no-objection for 76 applications, it said in a recent report.
The average review period for economic concentration applications in Q2 2026 was four days, and the total value of the applications reached SAR 373.84 billion.
The acquisition applications involving foreign companies accounted for 75% of total transactions, compared with 25% for domestic companies during the same period.
Acquisition transactions represented 89% of total economic concentration deals, while joint ventures accounted for 8% and mergers for 3%.
Details of Economic Concentration Applications in Q3 2024
Application Type
Q2 2025
Q2 2026
YoY Change
Under-study
10
10
—
No-notification required
27
26
(4%)
No-objection
50
76
+52%
Total
87
112
+29%
The manufacturing sector accounted for the majority (34%) of total economic concentration applications in Q2 2026, followed by the information telecommunications sector (12%),as shown in the following table:
Economic Concentration Applications by Sector
Segment
% to Total
Manufacturing
34%
Information telecommunications
12%
Professional, scientific and technical activities
8%
Transportation storage
8%
Other sectors
38%
GAC issued no-objection for 76 applications during Q2 2026
The General Authority for Competition (GAC) received 112 economic concentration applications during the second quarter of 2026, up 29% from the same period last year.
The authority issued no-objection for 76 applications, it said in a recent report.
The average review period for economic concentration applications in Q2 2026 was four days, and the total value of the applications reached SAR 373.84 billion.
The acquisition applications involving foreign companies accounted for 75% of total transactions, compared with 25% for domestic companies during the same period.
Acquisition transactions represented 89% of total economic concentration deals, while joint ventures accounted for 8% and mergers for 3%.
Details of Economic Concentration Applications in Q3 2024
Application Type
Q2 2025
Q2 2026
YoY Change
Under-study
10
10
—
No-notification required
27
26
(4%)
No-objection
50
76
+52%
Total
87
112
+29%
The manufacturing sector accounted for the majority (34%) of total economic concentration applications in Q2 2026, followed by the information telecommunications sector (12%),as shown in the following table:
Economic Concentration Applications by Sector
Segment
% to Total
Manufacturing
34%
Information telecommunications
12%
Professional, scientific and technical activities
8%
Transportation storage
8%
Other sectors
38%
