Jeddah: Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has announced a major regulatory change allowing all foreign investors worldwide to invest directly in the Saudi stock market starting February 1, 2026.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the CMA board has approved amendments to existing regulations aimed at expanding access to the Kingdom’s main equity market. Under the revised rules, global investors will be able to participate directly in Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange without previous restrictions.
The authority said the move is designed to broaden and enhance the investor base in the main market, promote investment inflows, and increase market liquidity. Officials believe the reform will further strengthen Saudi Arabia’s capital market and align it with international standards.
Reports indicate that by the third quarter of 2025, foreign investment in the Saudi stock market had reached SAR 590 billion. The CMA expects this figure to rise significantly following the implementation of the new regulations.
It is worth noting that the Capital Market Authority had already announced measures to ease investment rules in July 2025. At that time, select categories of investors — including residents of Gulf countries and foreigners who had previously lived in Saudi Arabia — were allowed to invest in the stock market. The latest decision marks the final step in opening the market to all international investors.
