Saudi Arabia jumped four places to rank 13th globally for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025, up from 17th a year earlier. That’s according to a Reuters report citing the UN Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) latest World Investment Report.
Why it matters: The Kingdom pulled in $33 billion in FDI last year, a 51.14% jump over 2024. That’s strong evidence Vision 2030’s diversification strategy is drawing serious long-term capital, even as Riyadh works to cut its reliance on oil revenue. The government has set a target of $100 billion in annual FDI by 2030, and last year’s result moves the Kingdom significantly closer to that goal.
“Saudi Arabia recorded strong growth in FDI, driven by energy, infrastructure and diversification strategies,” UNCTAD said in the report.
Momentum Builds Across Multiple Benchmarks
The UNCTAD ranking isn’t the only sign of rising investor confidence. Saudi Arabia entered the top 10 for the first time in Kearney’s 2026 FDI Confidence Index, ranking ninth globally and third among emerging markets. That index measures investor sentiment rather than actual capital flows, but it points in the same direction as UNCTAD’s hard numbers.
Tech investment is a major driver behind that confidence. Amazon Web Services has committed $5.3 billion to expand data center infrastructure in the Kingdom. Google Cloud, meanwhile, is partnering with Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund to build an AI hub, adding to a growing list of global tech players betting on the Kingdom’s digital economy.
Domestic Data Confirms the Trend
- Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics reported FDI inflows rose 2.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, reaching SAR26.6 billion ($7.1 billion).
- Net FDI flows jumped 34.5% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, hitting SAR24.9 billion, the fastest growth pace since the start of that year.
- The balance of foreign investment inside the Saudi economy climbed to SAR3.32 trillion by the end of 2025, up 19% from the previous year.
By the numbers: Global FDI rose 6% to $1.62 trillion in 2025, snapping two straight years of decline. Growth split unevenly: developed economies expanded 11% to $723 billion, while developing economies grew just 2%, topping $901 billion.
United States: $277 billion (down 2.46% year-on-year, but still first globally)
Singapore: $151 billion
Hong Kong: $116 billion
China: $105 billion
Brazil: $77 billion
Saudi Arabia a Rising Global Investment Destination
The big picture: UNCTAD’s report frames Saudi Arabia’s gains within a broader regional and global recovery. The Kingdom’s diversification push, spanning giga-projects, industrial expansion and regulatory reform, continues to position it as one of the most closely watched emerging investment destinations worldwide. Global FDI overall rose 6% to $1.62 trillion in 2025, snapping two straight years of decline, though growth remained concentrated in developed economies and a handful of technology mega-deals.
Still, UNCTAD flagged risks that could affect momentum going forward. “Rising geopolitical tensions are likely to affect the implementation of announced projects and increase downside risks for FDI, particularly in energy, transport and logistics,” the organization said.
The bottom line: Saudi Arabia’s climb from 17th to 13th in a single year, backed by a 51% surge in inflows, rising confidence indices, and accelerating domestic data, signals that Vision 2030’s push to diversify away from oil is translating into real, measurable investor commitment. The Kingdom still has ground to cover to hit its $100 billion annual target by 2030, but the trajectory across every available metric points the same way, up.
