Saudi Arabia is the world’s fastest-growing major economy — a $1.1 trillion GDP expanding at 4.5%, powered by the most ambitious economic transformation programme ever attempted. Vision 2030 has unlocked 100% foreign ownership, opened the $10 trillion Tadawul stock exchange to all investors, activated four new Special Economic Zones, and committed $1 trillion through the Public Investment Fund. Whether you are investing, starting a company, or expanding into the Gulf, this is the definitive business guide.
Key Business Facts
| GDP | $1.1 trillion (2025) — 4.5% real growth, 17th largest economy globally |
| Non-Oil GDP | 55.6% of total (up from 45% in 2016) — diversification accelerating |
| PIF Assets | $1+ trillion — 5th largest sovereign wealth fund globally |
| Foreign Ownership | 100% permitted since 2021 — no local partner required |
| Corporate Tax | 20% CIT (0% personal income tax) — 5% in Special Economic Zones |
| Stock Market | SAR 10T+ market cap — QFI restrictions removed February 2026, open to all |
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MOST READ Investing in Saudi Arabia → Foreign investor access, sectors to watch, stock market entry, real estate, and PIF co-investment opportunities. |
START A BUSINESS Company Formation Guide → LLC setup, MISA licensing, costs SAR 45K–65K, and step-by-step process. |
THE BIG PICTURE Vision 2030 Explained → Saudi Arabia’s $7 trillion economic transformation — what it means for business. |
Investment & Markets
The pillars of the Saudi investment landscape — stock exchange, real estate, sovereign wealth, banking, residency, and the new business capital.
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CAPITAL MARKETS Stock Market (Tadawul) → SAR 10T+ market cap, 200+ listed companies. QFI restrictions removed February 2026 — how foreign investors can now buy in directly. |
PROPERTY Real Estate → Foreign ownership law changed January 2026. NEOM, Riyadh, Jeddah — where prices are moving and how to buy legally. |
SOVEREIGN WEALTH Public Investment Fund → The $1T+ fund behind NEOM, Saudi Pro League, Lucid Motors, and dozens of giga-projects. Full portfolio and strategy breakdown. |
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BANKING Banking & Finance → Open a bank account, IBAN transfers, Islamic finance, top banks — everything foreigners need to manage money in the Kingdom. |
Golden Visa (Premium Residency) → SAR 4M property investment or SAR 1M deposit — permanent residency, property rights, and family sponsorship. |
Riyadh Business Capital → The new HQ mandate, King Abdullah Financial District, Diriyah Gate — why multinationals are relocating to the Saudi capital. |
Starting a Business
Licensing, taxation, free zones, and the visa you need to operate on the ground.
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Company Formation LLC setup, MISA licensing, 100% foreign ownership, capital requirements SAR 45K–65K, and timeline. Read Guide → |
Tax Guide 20% CIT, 15% VAT, 2.5% Zakat, withholding tax, transfer pricing — every rate and filing deadline explained. Read Guide → |
Free Zones & SEZs 4 Special Economic Zones activating April 2026. 5% CIT, 0% customs, 50-year leases — full incentive breakdown. Read Guide → |
Business Visa Requirements, application process, costs, multi-entry options, and the new Premium Residency programme. Read Guide → |
Energy & Resources
Oil still funds the Kingdom — but solar, mining, and green hydrogen are the next chapter.
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OIL & GAS Oil Industry & Aramco → 12.5M bpd capacity, Aramco’s $1.8T valuation, Jafurah gas field, downstream expansion — the engine of the Saudi economy. |
GREEN TRANSITION Renewable Energy → 58.7 GW target by 2030, NEOM green hydrogen, Sudair Solar — how Saudi Arabia is becoming a clean energy superpower. |
CRITICAL MINERALS Mining & Minerals → $2.5 trillion in untapped reserves — gold, lithium, copper, phosphate. Ma’aden expansion and the new mining code. |
Employment & Workforce
Hiring, Saudization quotas, and the rules every employer and foreign worker must know.
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Jobs for Foreigners → Salary benchmarks, in-demand roles, work visa process, tax-free income, and the best job platforms for expats in Saudi Arabia. Read Guide → |
Saudization (Nitaqat) → Quota bands by sector, compliance tiers (Platinum to Red), penalties for non-compliance, and strategies for foreign companies. Read Guide → |
Mega-Projects & Cities
The giga-projects reshaping Saudi Arabia’s economic geography — and the business opportunities they create.
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GIGA-PROJECT NEOM Business Guide → $500 billion mega-city — The Line, Oxagon industrial port, Trojena ski resort. Procurement, contracts, and how companies are getting involved. |
NEW CAPITAL Riyadh Business Hub → HQ relocation mandate, King Abdullah Financial District, Diriyah Gate, New Murabba — why Riyadh is the new business capital of the Middle East. |
Economy & Strategy
The macro picture — Vision 2030 progress, GDP data, and the structural reforms reshaping the Saudi economy.
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TRANSFORMATION Vision 2030 → Saudi Arabia’s $7 trillion economic transformation — privatisation, entertainment, tourism, NEOM, and the post-oil strategy. Where it stands in 2026. |
MACROECONOMICS Economy Dashboard → $1.1 trillion GDP, 4.5% real growth, unemployment falling to 7.7%, non-oil revenue tripled since 2015. Key indicators and data. |
Start with the company formation guide or explore investment opportunities across the Kingdom.
This business hub is continuously updated by the House of Saud editorial team. 21 guides and counting.