Saudi Arabia will open its capital market totally to overseas traders from February 1, 2026, marking one of the important liberalisation steps within the Kingdom’s monetary market historical past.
The transfer removes long-standing restrictions on non-resident participation and is designed to deepen liquidity and appeal to extra worldwide capital.
The announcement was made by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) following approval by the CMA Board of a brand new regulatory framework governing overseas funding within the Predominant Market.
Saudi Arabia opens doorways to overseas traders
Beneath the brand new framework, the Saudi capital market will likely be accessible to all classes of overseas traders for direct participation throughout all its segments, efficient from February 1, 2026.
The accredited amendments are supposed to develop and diversify the investor base permitted to put money into the Predominant Market, supporting funding inflows and enhancing total market liquidity.
As a part of the reforms, the CMA has eradicated the idea of the Certified Overseas Investor (QFI) within the Predominant Market.
This modification permits all classes of overseas traders to entry the market with out the necessity to meet particular qualification necessities.
The amendments additionally take away the regulatory framework governing swap agreements, which beforehand allowed non-resident overseas traders to achieve solely financial publicity to listed securities. Beneath the brand new guidelines, overseas traders will likely be permitted to speculate immediately in shares listed on the Predominant Market.
Overseas possession already exceeds $157bn
Worldwide traders’ possession within the Saudi capital market exceeded SR590bn ($157.3bn) by the top of the third quarter of 2025. Throughout the identical interval, worldwide investments within the Predominant Market reached roughly SR519bn ($138.4bn).
This represents development in comparison with worldwide possession on the finish of 2024, which stood at SR498bn ($132.8bn).
The CMA stated the accredited amendments are anticipated to contribute to attracting extra worldwide investments going ahead.
The CMA famous that the newest determination builds on earlier steps taken to open the market steadily. In July 2025, the regulator accredited measures to simplify procedures for opening and working funding accounts for sure classes of traders.
These included pure overseas traders residing in one of many Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) international locations, in addition to people who had beforehand resided within the Kingdom or in any GCC nation. The CMA described this as an interim part aimed toward rising confidence amongst Predominant Market contributors and supporting the native economic system.
Saudi Arabia a global market
In line with the CMA, the accredited amendments align with its long-term technique to place the Saudi capital market as a global market able to attracting higher flows of overseas capital.
The regulator stated the adjustments construct on earlier phases of market opening and pave the best way for additional complementary steps designed to boost the Kingdom’s attraction to world traders.
