RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows increased by 33.5 percent to SR159.1 billion in 2025, compared with SR119.2 billion in 2024, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
The increase came as the Kingdom’s total FDI stock rose by 8.3 percent to SR1.06 trillion by the end of 2025, while net FDI inflows increased by 1.7 percent to SR81.4 billion, compared with SR80 billion in 2024.
Meanwhile, FDI outflows increased by 98.5 percent to SR77.7 billion, up from SR39.2 billion in the previous year.
Construction activities recorded the highest contribution to total FDI inflows at SR34.5 billion, accounting for 21.7 percent of the total.
GASTAT’s figure showing FDI stocks and net inflows (billion SAR)
Manufacturing followed with SR33.4 billion, representing 21 percent of total inflows, while administrative and support service activities reached SR22.4 billion, accounting for 14.1 percent.
For FDI outflows, manufacturing recorded the highest value at SR25.2 billion, representing 32.4 percent of total outflows.
Construction followed with SR14.8 billion, accounting for 19 percent, while wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles reached approximately SR11 billion, representing 14.1 percent.
By country, Luxembourg recorded the highest net FDI inflows at SR24.4 billion, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt at SR9.4 billion each, and Yemen at SR5.2 billion.
GASTAT’s figure showing FDI flows (billion SAR)
In terms of FDI stock, the UAE ranked first at SR170.7 billion, followed by Luxembourg at SR125.3 billion and the United States at SR73 billion.
Manufacturing accounted for the largest share of total FDI stock at SR285.4 billion, representing 27 percent of the total.
Wholesale and retail trade and the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles followed at SR157.7 billion, accounting for 14.9 percent, while financial and insurance activities reached SR133.1 billion, representing 12.6 percent.
According to GASTAT, foreign direct investment refers to a long-term investment relationship in which a foreign investor holds 10 percent or more of the voting power in an enterprise, allowing a degree of control or influence over its decision-making.
Source: Saudi Gazette