International investors reach 160,700 in 2025; net investments top SAR 225B

The number of international investors in the Saudi capital market rose to 160,700 by the end of 2025, compared to 147,800 in 2024, marking a 9% increase, according to the Capital Market Authority’s (CMA) annual report.

The growth comes amid ongoing efforts to develop the Saudi capital market and enhance its attractiveness to international investors while the CMA noted that attracting foreign investment is a strategic objective aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The total number of international investors includes participants in the Main Market (TASI), the Nomu-Parallel Market, the Sukuk and Debt Instruments Market, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and closed-ended traded investment funds.

The value of international investors’ holdings in TASI declined to SAR 490.2 billion by the end of 2025, compared to SAR 498.2 billion a year earlier.

Meanwhile, their ownership of free-float shares increased to 14% from 12.4% in 2024.

International investors’ ownership in the equity market at the end of 2025 was distributed between foreign investments valued at SAR 416.2 billion, representing 85% of total holdings, and GCC investments worth approximately SAR 73.9 billion.

According to the regulations governing investments by Qualified Foreign Financial Institutions (QFFIs) in listed shares, which were in force during 2025, holdings by qualified foreign investors in the Saudi capital market stood at approximately SAR 337.9 billion by year-end 2025.

Net international investment in the Main Market reached SAR 225.2 billion by the end of 2025, up 10% from 2024, reflecting continued foreign capital inflows into the Saudi market.

According to the report, foreign investors expanded their holdings across several asset classes in 2025, with investments in funds rising to SAR 26.3 billion from SAR 20 billion in 2024, while holdings in listed sukuk and debt instruments climbed to nearly SAR 27 billion. Foreign ownership in the Nomu Parallel Market stood at SAR 805.2 million at the end of 2025.