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

08/08/2022 Argaam Special
Logo of Ministry of Investment

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:

 

Foreign Investment Licenses in Saudi Arabia

Period

No.

YoY Change

Q1 2016

72

--

Q2 2016

54

--

Q3 2016

44

--

Q4 2016

86

--

Q1 2017

66

(8%)

Q2 2017

85

+57%

Q3 2017

84

+91%

Q4 2017

142

+65%

Q1 2018

157

+138%

Q2 2018

146

+72%

Q3 2018

197

+135%

Q4 2018

238

+68%

Q1 2019

297

+89%

Q2 2019

292

+100%

Q3 2019

252

+28%

Q4 2019

290

+22%

Q1 2020

352

+21%

Q2 2020

158

(46%)

Q3 2020

307

+21%

Q4 2020

449

+54%

Q1 2021

479

+36%

Q2 2021

576

+265%

Q3 2021

1,336

+335%

Q4 2021

2,085

+364%

Q1 2022

9,383

+1859%

Q2 2022

4,455

+673%

 
 

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.

 

New Foreign Investment Licenses by Sector in Q2 2022

Sector

No. of licenses

Wholesale and Retail Trade

2,713

Construction

528

Manufacturing Industries

349

Accommodation and Food

276

Academic & Professional Activities

153

Information and Communication

85

Administrative & Support Services

84

Transportation and Storage

79

Human, Health and Social Work

37

Real Estate Activities

34

Water Supply, Sewage and Waste Management

24

Art, Entertainment & Recreation

21

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

15

Education

13

Financial and Insurance activities

13

Mining and Quarrying

9

Electricity and Gas

7

Other

15

 
 

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