Assets of Saudi public, private investment funds rise 2% to SAR 526.1 bln in Q3 2021

Saudi Arabian banknotes

The total value of assets held by public and private investment funds in Saudi Arabia grew by 2% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to SAR 526.1 billion during the third quarter of 2021.

The number of investment funds rose to 727 by the end of the three-month period, from 723 in Q2 2021, including 254 public funds and 473 private funds, according to a report issued by the Capital Market Authority (CMA).

The investment funds include a group of securities that are selected based on specific criteria that achieve the fund's investment objectives. It is divided into public and private funds.

Profits generated by an investment fund are usually capital gains, that is profits resulting from any improvement or change in prices of invested securities in addition to dividends, if any.

According to the CMA's report, the value of private funds, which represent 54% of total fund assets, climbed by 4% to SAR 286.3 billion.

Meanwhile, the value of assets held by public investment funds declined by 1% to SAR 239.8 billion.

The number of subscribers to Saudi investment funds stood at 453,200 in Q3 2021, up from 408,400 subscribers by the end of Q2 2021.

* Updated data

In terms of type of investment, the value of assets held by money markets, equity, and REITs represented 85% of the total public funds’ assets, with nearly SAR 145.02 billion, SAR 31.72 billion and SAR 26.42 billion, respectively.

The value of assets held by equity and real estate funds stood at SAR 170.2 billion and SAR 89.1 billion, respectively, accounting for 91% of the total assets of private funds.