Foreign investment in Saudi Arabia hits SAR 1.68 tln in H1 2019

Saudi Arabia has launched today the Future Investment Initiative (FII) 2019 for the third consecutive year, which brings together nearly 300 speakers from more than 30 countries.

On this occasion, Argaam sheds light on the Kingdom’s foreign investment in H1 2019, based on the latest official data issued by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA).

Foreign investment in Saudi Arabia grew by 8 percent year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 1.685 trillion in the first half of 2019.

The following table illustrates the development of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Kingdom:

*Estimates

FDI accounted for 52 percent of total foreign investment in the Kingdom. Portfolio investments hit SAR 452.4 billion, while other investments stood at SAR 355.4 billion.

Saudi Arabia, which joined emerging market indices this year, attracted inactive flows of nearly SAR 51 billion.

Regulations were issued on the ownership of strategic investors in Tadawul-listed firms.

The Saudi Cabinet approved the privileged residency scheme, which allows expatriates to live and work in the Kingdom without the need of a Saudi national as a sponsor — for the first time.

The Kingdom aims to attract more foreign investments to its recently-launched mega projects, such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea, in addition to other renewable energy projects.

More investments are targeted through the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), which offers various opportunities in the industrial, mining, energy and logistics services sectors.