Trading: Foreign purchases amounted to SAR 1.23 billion in December 2025

Saudi financial market data, in a strong indicator of the attractiveness of the national economy, showed that qualified foreign investors continued to strengthen their positions in the market, recording net purchases of SAR 1.23 billion during December 2025. These figures reflect the growing confidence in the Kingdom's investment environment and the promising opportunities offered by listed companies.

Details of foreign investment activity

According to the Saudi Stock Exchange's monthly report on trading and ownership by nationality, foreign investors not only maintained a marginal presence but also captured a significant share of market activity. Qualified foreign investors accounted for 37.75% of total market purchases in December, while their sales represented 36.12% of total sales, resulting in the aforementioned billion-dollar surplus.

The performance of Saudi institutions and individuals varied

On a local level, the report revealed a clear disparity in investment trends between individuals and institutions:

• Saudi individuals were net buyers, recording net purchases totaling SAR 1.53 billion. This figure resulted from net purchases by individual investors of approximately SAR 1.68 billion, compared to net sales by managed portfolios of approximately SAR 249 million.
• Saudi institutions adopted a selling strategy to realize profits or reposition their portfolios, recording net sales of SAR 3.17 billion. Corporate sales primarily contributed to this figure with net sales of SAR 2.27 billion, followed by investment funds with net sales of approximately SAR 955 million.

The economic context and the importance of foreign flows

These figures cannot be interpreted in isolation from the fundamental transformations that the Saudi financial market has undergone in recent years. The continued influx of foreign liquidity is a direct result of the structural reforms implemented by the Capital Market Authority and the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), including streamlining the entry procedures for Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs) and developing clearing and settlement mechanisms.

These inflows are particularly significant in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economic base and establish the Saudi financial market as a leading global investment destination. The increase in net foreign purchases enhances market depth, boosts liquidity, and contributes to more efficient pricing for listed companies by attracting global institutional investors who adhere to rigorous investment criteria.

Moreover, this momentum reflects the growing international interest in the Kingdom’s non-oil sectors, which are experiencing rapid growth, making Saudi stocks a key component of global emerging market portfolios.