Trading: 671 million riyals net purchases by individuals; market opened to foreigners in 2026

The latest weekly report issued by Tadawul, the Saudi Stock Exchange, regarding ownership value and trading volume in the stock market, revealed notable positive activity by individual investors. The data showed that net purchases by individual investors reached approximately SAR 671 million , while large individual investors recorded net purchases of SAR 191.5 million, and specialized investors' net purchases amounted to approximately SAR 37.4 million.

According to the details in the report, individual investors accounted for a significant share of market activity, with their purchases representing 26.61% of total purchases, compared to 23.30% of total sales during the past week, reflecting a clear buying trend among this segment of traders.

Radical shifts in financial market strategy

This data coincides with major strategic decisions announced by the Capital Market Authority (CMA), aimed at reshaping the foreign investment landscape in the Kingdom. The CMA has decided to open the main market to all categories of foreign investors, enabling them to invest directly starting February 1, 2026. This move represents a significant turning point in the history of the Saudi financial market, as the approved amendments will eliminate the "Qualified Foreign Investor" (QFI) concept, which had been in place for years as a prerequisite for foreign financial institutions to enter the market.

Economic dimensions and the impact of Vision 2030

This decision aligns with the objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program, a key pillar of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Saudi financial market as a global hub for attracting capital. By granting access to all categories of foreign investors without requiring them to meet complex qualification requirements, and by eliminating the regulatory framework for swap agreements that previously granted only economic benefits without direct ownership, the Kingdom seeks to enhance liquidity levels and improve market efficiency.

This full market liberalization is expected to increase the weighting of the Saudi market in emerging market indices such as MSCI and FTSE Russell, attracting significant passive and active capital inflows. Furthermore, allowing direct investment enhances transparency and governance, and expands the investor base to include new categories previously inaccessible, thus supporting long-term market stability and reducing sharp fluctuations.