«السوق» تستطلع الآراء لفتح «الرئيسية» لجميع فئات المستثمرين الأجانب غير المقيمين

The Capital Market Authority has invited all interested parties, stakeholders, and participants in the financial market to express their views regarding the opening of the main market to all categories of non-resident foreign investors, allowing them to invest directly in it, for a period of 30 calendar days ending on 9/5/1447, corresponding to 31/10/2025.

The project aims to expand and diversify the base of investors eligible to invest in the main market, attract more investments, and increase liquidity.

If approved, the proposed project will eliminate the concept of qualified foreign investor in the main market, allowing all categories of foreign investors to enter the market without the need to meet qualification requirements, in addition to canceling the swap agreements that were used as an option to enable non-resident foreign investors to obtain economic benefits only from the listed securities, thus allowing them instead to invest directly in the shares listed in the main market.

Confidence of Participants

By the end of the second quarter of 2025, the ownership of international investors had exceeded 528 billion riyals, while foreign investments in the main market recorded about 412 billion riyals during the same period, achieving a growth rate of 471% compared to 72 billion riyals at the end of 2015. The project is expected to contribute to attracting more foreign investments.

It is worth mentioning that the Capital Market Authority approved in July 2025 the facilitation of procedures for opening and operating investment accounts for several categories of investors, including foreign individual investors residing in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, or those who have previously resided in the Kingdom or in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, with the aim of increasing the level of confidence among participants in the main market and enhancing support for the local economy.

Attracting Investments

This project comes in line with the Authority's gradual approach to opening the market after several previous phases, which will be followed by complementary phases to enhance the liberalization of the financial market and make it an international market that attracts more foreign capital.

The Capital Market Authority confirmed that the comments from interested parties, including individuals, government entities, the private sector, and entities under the Authority's supervision, will be given careful consideration and study for the purpose of adopting the final form of the project, which in turn will contribute to achieving the goal of improving and developing the regulatory environment. Comments can be submitted through the following means: "The unified electronic platform for public opinion surveys and government entities affiliated with the National Competitiveness Center" (Survey Platform) via the electronic link.