Foreign investment licenses in Saudi Arabia rise to 4,455 in Q2 2022

Logo of Ministry of Investment

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment issued 4,455 new investment licenses to foreign companies in the second quarter of 2022, a rise of 673% from 576 licenses a year earlier.

This impressive rise was supported by the government’s efforts to promote foreign direct investment in the Kingdom, as well as efforts to correct the situation of the Anti-Concealment Law Violators. 

The following table illustrates the number of foreign investment licenses issued since early 2016:

The wholesale and retail trade topped with the highest number of licenses at 2,713 in Q2 2022, surging 1,450% year-on-year.

This comes due to the Kingdom's increasing position as one of the most attractive investment destinations, in addition to the growing investors’ interest in wholesale and retail trade activity, particularly e-commerce, which boomed on improved consumer confidence and rising purchasing power.

Construction and manufacturing sectors followed with 528 and 349 new licenses, respectively.