Asian investors give Saudi Arabia’s stock exchange a vote of confidence with rising activity, says Tadawul CEO
- Asian investors represented more than 17 per cent of qualified foreign investor activity on the Saudi Exchange’s main market in the first quarter
- Market’s size, high liquidity, and diverse products have established the Saudi exchange as a global investment destination of choice, CEO says
“We are seeing an incredible amount of interest from Asian investors in the Saudi market,” Khalid Al Hussan said during a recent visit to Hong Kong.
Investors from Asia represented more than 17 per cent of qualified foreign investor (QFI) activity on the Saudi Exchange’s main market in the first quarter of 2024, according to Tadawul Group.
Reforms implemented by the Saudi Capital Market Authority and initiatives from Tadawul Group have resulted in an uptick in the market’s overall number of registered QFIs. By the end of April, there were 3,800 registered QFIs, 76 times more than in 2017, when there were only 50.
Foreign investment rose 16 per cent in 2023 to reach an all-time high of more than 400 billion riyals (US$106 billion).
“Saudi Arabia’s size and high levels of liquidity, coupled with its location at the heart of major trade routes and supply chains, make the kingdom an incredibly attractive market for investment today,” said Al Hussan.
“These factors – as well as our diverse investment products – have already helped us establish the Saudi capital market increasingly as a global investment destination of choice.”
