According to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Capital Market Authority (CMA) has announced the opening of the capital market to all categories of foreign investors. Barrier-free access will be granted from 1 February 2026 through direct investments. The news has been positively received in the financial community in the Middle East.

As a result, the capital market—boasting a market capitalisation of 2.7 trillion dollars—will be opened across all segments to a wide range of investor groups from around the world for direct participation. The aim is to support capital inflows and increase market liquidity, the CMA said. In line with the government’s Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to transform the country from an oil supplier into a broadly diversified economy, the kingdom is striving to promote equity investments in listed Saudi companies both domestically and internationally.

Farewell to the Qualified Foreign Investor Concept

The changes abolish the Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) concept in the main market and allow all categories of foreign investors to access the market without having to meet qualification requirements.

The market benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) posted the weakest annual performance among Gulf stock markets in 2025. The TASI fell by 13 percent, while Oman’s MSX gained 28.2 percent. Over the same period, the benchmark indices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi rose by 17.2 percent and six percent, respectively.