Saudi Arabia Opens Stock Market to All Global Investors

Saudi Arabia will open its capital markets to all foreign investors starting 1 February, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) announced. The CMA will eliminate the Qualified Foreign Investor rule, which previously allowed only international investors with direct and consistent access to the Saudi market. The move will enable global investors to invest directly, boosting inflows and improving market liquidity. This is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to attract foreign investment and reduce reliance on oil. The country has also partnered with Asian markets in Japan and Hong Kong to launch exchange-traded funds as part of this effort.