Al-Falih: 2,000 investment opportunities and a trillion riyals in investment value
During his address to the Shura Council, Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih revealed the features of the new phase of the Saudi economy, stressing that the ministry is currently working on preparing an updated investment strategy that represents the second phase of the national investment strategy, following the great success achieved in the first phase during the past five years.
The context of economic transformation and Vision 2030
These statements come at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing an unprecedented economic transformation within the framework of "Vision 2030," which aims primarily to diversify income sources and reduce dependence on oil. The National Investment Strategy is a key driver of this transformation, seeking to empower the private sector and attract foreign capital, thereby strengthening the Kingdom's position as a global investment powerhouse and a logistics hub connecting three continents.
Record numbers and trillion-dollar opportunities
Al-Falih reviewed the quantitative performance of investment, noting that it exceeded expectations, with investment now constituting 32% of GDP, while fixed capital formation from non-oil GDP reached 40%. The minister explained that the ministry successfully identified more than 2,000 high-quality investment opportunities with a total value exceeding one trillion riyals, pointing out that the "Invest in Saudi Arabia" platform contributed to converting many of these opportunities into 346 closed deals worth over 231 billion riyals.
A surge in licenses and regional headquarters
Regarding the program to attract regional headquarters for global companies, Al-Falih confirmed significant progress, with more than 700 international companies licensed by the end of 2025, exceeding the target of 500 companies set for 2030. This achievement reflects growing confidence in the Saudi investment environment and reinforces Riyadh's role as a regional business hub in the Middle East.
Active investment licenses have also witnessed tremendous growth of 10 times, rising from 6,000 licenses in 2019 to 62,000 licenses by the end of 2025, contributing to the creation of more than one million job opportunities, benefiting thousands of young national talents.
Strengthening the financial sector and international competitiveness
In the financial sector, the Minister of Investment noted the Kingdom's success in attracting 20 of the world's 30 largest banks, which strengthens the depth of the Saudi financial market and supports the financing of major projects. These efforts, along with ongoing legislative improvements, have contributed to the Kingdom's 15-place jump in the global competitiveness rankings, underscoring the effectiveness of the implemented structural reforms.
Priority for local investors and competitive neutrality
In closing, Al-Falih emphasized that local investors remain the Ministry's top priority, affirming its commitment to the principle of "competitive neutrality" and fair competition between local and foreign investors. He explained that the updated National Strategy 2025 focuses primarily on quality and productivity, directing investments toward sectors with the highest economic impact, and developing innovative financing solutions to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
