Foreigners purchased 1.52 billion riyals worth of Saudi stocks in one week
The Saudi stock market (Tadawul) continued to attract further international capital inflows, with the latest financial data showing strong buying activity from international institutions. According to official reports, net purchases by qualified foreign investors in the main market during the week ending January 29, 2026, reached approximately SAR 1.52 billion , reflecting growing confidence in the strength of the Saudi economy and the available investment opportunities.
Details of foreign trades and liquidity
Detailed data revealed that qualified foreign investors accounted for a significant share of market activity, representing approximately 39.05% of total purchases during the week, compared to 34% of total sales. This positive disparity underscores the continued risk appetite of foreign portfolios towards leading stocks and vital sectors in the Kingdom.
In contrast, according to the weekly report on ownership value and traded value published by "Tadawul Saudi Arabia", local liquidity moved towards selling to realize profits or reposition, as the net sales of total Saudi individuals amounted to about 1.16 billion riyals, while Saudi companies recorded net sales of about 634.4 million riyals during the same period.
Continued momentum for the second week in a row
This week is not an exception, but rather an extension of the momentum that began in previous weeks. In the week preceding it, ending January 22, 2026, net purchases by qualified foreign investors reached approximately SAR 1.80 billion . They accounted for 40.29% of total purchases and 32.34% of sales.
In the details of the previous week (January 22), Saudi individuals’ sales amounted to approximately 1.32 billion riyals, distributed between net sales of individual investors (201.0 million riyals), large individual investors (671.58 million riyals), and specialized investors (369.78 million riyals), in addition to net sales of investment funds of approximately 584.44 million riyals.
The economic context and the importance of foreign flows
These rising figures for net foreign purchases are a direct reflection of the structural reforms undertaken by the Saudi financial market as part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 . The facilities provided to Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) and the development of post-trade infrastructure have contributed to placing the Saudi market on the radar of global funds.
The inclusion of Tadawul in global emerging market indices (such as MSCI and FTSE Russell) also boosts both passive and active cash flows. Experts indicate that the continued influx of foreign liquidity contributes to greater market depth, enhanced transparency and governance, and reduced volatility caused by retail trading, gradually shifting the market towards institutional and long-term investment rather than short-term speculation.
