How Saudi Arabia Is Outperforming GCC Peers in Attracting Foreign Capital

RIYADH — Foreign investors poured $1.6 billion into the Saudi Exchange during the second quarter of 2026, the highest net buying in the Gulf Cooperation Council and the only market in the region to record net foreign purchases, according to Kamco Invest.

All other GCC exchanges registered net selling by foreign investors during the quarter, with Dubai witnessing the heaviest outflow at $641.5 million, followed by Kuwait at $480.3 million, Qatar at $375.4 million, and Abu Dhabi at $187.3 million. Overall, foreign investors across the GCC recorded net sales of $298.3 million in the second quarter, a sharp reversal from net purchases of $1.5 billion in the first quarter.

Saudi Arabia recorded consistent net foreign buying throughout all three months of the quarter, while other exchanges experienced net selling across each month. Despite a 24.3 percent decline in trading volume, the value of shares traded on the Saudi Exchange rose from $77.5 billion in the first quarter to $86.4 billion in the second quarter.

Five Saudi-listed companies ranked among the top 10 most actively traded GCC stocks by value, with Al Rajhi Bank leading at $6.9 billion, followed by Saudi Aramco and Emaar Properties at about $6 billion each.

The performance comes as the Kingdom continues to attract global capital, buoyed by strong corporate earnings and economic reforms under the government’s goal to attract $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment by 2030.

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