Saudi Arabia
Economy, Investment & Business Guide

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (المملكة العربية السعودية) is the undisputed economic, political and cultural powerhouse of the Middle East. Occupying roughly 80% of the Arabian Peninsula, it is the largest country in the region by land area and holds the world's second-largest proven oil reserves, making it the single most influential player in global energy markets. Explore the detail in our Saudi economy overview.

Under Saudi Vision 2030 (رؤية ٢٠٣٠), the Kingdom is executing the most ambitious national transformation programme in modern history. A petroleum-centred economy is diversifying rapidly into tourism, technology, entertainment, renewable energy, mining and advanced manufacturing — creating entirely new industries and opening the market to foreign investors and operators.

Saudi Arabia's strategic weight extends well beyond energy. As custodian of Islam's two holiest sites — Mecca and Medina — it holds unique significance for 1.8 billion Muslims, welcoming millions of pilgrims each year for Hajj and Umrah. Its G20 membership, OPEC leadership and founding role in the GCC give it outsized influence over trade policy and regional security, as covered in our geopolitics section.

The Public Investment Fund (صندوق الاستثمارات العامة) is reshaping global investment flows, while mega-projects such as NEOM, The Line, the Red Sea Project and Qiddiya are building futuristic cities and destinations from the ground up — generating a contract pipeline across engineering, technology, hospitality and services.

With a young, digitally native population, world-class infrastructure, no personal income tax and 100% foreign ownership permitted in most sectors, Saudi Arabia is one of the most compelling business destinations in the world today. Start with special economic zones or read the investment guides.