Saudi FDI inflows jump 33.5% to SAR159.1 billion in 2025

Saudi Arabia’s foreign direct investment inflows increased by 33.5 percent to SAR159.1 billion in 2025, compared with SAR119.2 billion in 2024, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The kingdom’s total FDI stock rose by 8.3 percent to SAR1.06 trillion by the end of 2025, while net FDI inflows grew 1.7 percent to SAR81.4 billion, up from SAR80 billion in 2024, GASTAT said.

FDI outflows surged 98.5 percent to SAR77.7 billion, up from SAR39.2 billion the previous year, the authority added.

Sector contributions

Construction activities recorded the highest contribution to total FDI inflows at SAR34.5 billion, representing 21.7 percent of the total, GASTAT reported.

Manufacturing followed with SAR33.4 billion, accounting for 21 percent of inflows, while administrative and support service activities reached SAR22.4 billion, or 14.1 percent, it said.

Outflow breakdown

For outflows, manufacturing recorded the highest value at SAR25.2 billion, making up 32.4 percent of total outflows, according to GASTAT.

Construction came second with SAR14.8 billion, or 19 percent, while wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles amounted to approximately SAR11 billion, representing 14.1 percent, the authority noted.

Country and stock details

By country, Luxembourg recorded the highest net FDI inflows at SAR24.4 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt at SAR9.4 billion each, and Yemen at SAR5.2 billion, GASTAT stated.

In terms of FDI stock, the UAE ranked first at SAR170.7 billion, Luxembourg second at SAR125.3 billion and the United States third at SAR73 billion, it added.

Manufacturing accounted for the largest share of total FDI stock at SAR285.4 billion, representing 27 percent of the total, while wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles followed at SAR157.7 billion, or 14.9 percent, and financial and insurance activities reached SAR133.1 billion, equivalent to 12.6 percent, according to the authority.

According to GASTAT, foreign direct investment refers to a long-term investment relationship in which a foreign investor holds 10 percent or more of the voting power in an enterprise, allowing a degree of control or influence over its decision‑making.