Saudi Arabia leapfrogs to 16th spot among G20 nations in terms of GDP: Al-Falih

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Updated 19 February 2024
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Saudi Arabia leapfrogs to 16th spot among G20 nations in terms of GDP: Al-Falih

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product has surged from SR2.6 trillion ($690 billion) to over SR4 trillion, propelling its G20 ranking to 16, said a top minister.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Capital Market Forum in Riyadh on Feb. 19, Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s minister of investment, said capital formation in the Kingdom showed significant growth since the beginning of this decade, reaching 28 percent by the third quarter of 2023. 

“At the beginning of this decade, the gross capital formation was less than 22 percent. By the third quarter of 2023, the capital formation is close to 28 percent,” said Al-Falih. 

He added: “The target of the national investment strategy is to grow capital formation in the Kingdom, including capital spending and investment to grow to 30 percent.” 

Capital formation is defined as the part of a country’s current output and imports that are not consumed or exported during the accounting period but are set aside as an addition to its stock of capital goods.

Al-Falih added that Saudi Arabia is now one of the favorite destinations for investors from abroad, with foreign direct investment stocks growing by 52 percent since the launch of Vision 2030. 

The minister further highlighted that sectors like tourism bring a surplus of investments into the Kingdom. 

“Saudi Arabia stands out as a beacon of hope, an island of stability, and as a destination for global investors,” he noted. 

During the same panel discussion, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, Saudi Arabia’s minister of economy and planning, also underscored the growth of the tourism sector in the Kingdom and said that the region has revised its 100 million traveler target to 150 million by the end of this decade. 

“There is a lot of progress. Tourism, for example, is achieving its 2030 targets, and we have up it to 150 million visitors by 2030,” said Al-Ibrahim. 

Saudi Capital Market Forum began on Feb. 19, with financial experts gathering in Riyadh to discuss the future of finance, evolving strategies, and innovative ideas to boost the sector’s growth. 

The two-day event, organized by Saudi Tadawul Group, is being held under the theme “Powering Growth” and is expected to serve as a nexus for transformative dialogue and innovation, fostering the convergence of emerging markets with established financial frameworks.


Closing Bell: Saudi main market ends week in red at 11,189

Updated 05 February 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main market ends week in red at 11,189

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed lower at the end of the trading week on Thursday, falling 1.34 percent, or 152.54 points, to finish at 11,188.73. 

The benchmark index opened at 11,320.52 and trended lower throughout the session, finishing well below its previous close of 11,341.27.  

Market breadth was sharply negative, with only 28 gainers compared with 236 decliners. Trading activity saw a volume of 239 million shares exchanged, with total turnover reaching SR5.5 billion ($1.47 billion). 

In the parallel market, Nomu closed higher, rising 0.23 percent to 23,865.95, although decliners continued to outnumber advancers. The MT30 index closed at 1,508.60, down 1.46 percent, shedding 22.38 points by the end of the session. 

Among the session’s top gainers, Dar Al Majed Real Estate Co. led advances, rising 5.43 percent to close at SR9.91. 

Al Aziziah REIT Fund added 4.67 percent to SR4.48, while Al Majed Oud Co. gained 2.81 percent to SR161.20. AFG International Co. advanced 2.45 percent to SR17.17, and Al Mawarid Manpower Co. rose 1.37 percent to SR125.70.

On the losing side, Saudi Research and Media Group posted the steepest decline, falling 6.88 percent to SR107. Cherry Trading Co. dropped 6.23 percent to SR28.88, while Saudi Arabian Mining Co. slipped 5.41 percent to SR72.55.  

Almasane Alkobra Mining Co. declined 5.38 percent to SR102, and Power and Water Utility Co. for Jubail and Yanbu ended 4.56 percent lower at SR31.36. 

On the announcements front, Saudi Industrial Investment Group released its interim financial results for the twelve-month period ended Dec. 31, 2025, reporting a return to profitability on an annual basis despite posting a quarterly loss.  

The company recorded a net loss of SR104 million in the fourth quarter, compared with a net profit of SR201 million in the same quarter of the previous year, which it attributed mainly to lower selling prices, higher operating costs, and increased general and administrative expenses.  

For the full year, however, the group posted a net profit attributable to shareholders of SR197 million, compared with SR161 million a year earlier, supported by higher sales volumes and improved operational performance at several subsidiaries. The stock last traded at SR14.77, down 3.59 percent. 

Separately, Saudi Exchange Co. announced the approval of a request by Merrill Lynch Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to terminate its market-making activities for Saudi Arabian Oil Co., effective Feb. 8.

The exchange said the termination relates specifically to the market-making agreement for Saudi Aramco shares and was approved in line with applicable market-making regulations.