Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul targets Asian investors to boost liquidity, market expansion: Bloomberg

A picture shows the sign showing the name of the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) outside the exchange building. File/AFP
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Updated 20 August 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul targets Asian investors to boost liquidity, market expansion: Bloomberg

  • Foreign ownership in Saudi capital markets has surged over the past five years, hitting record levels in 2023
  • Tadawul is committed to deepening relationships with Chinese counterparts and anticipates increased collaborative efforts

RIYADH: The Saudi Stock Exchange is intensifying its focus on attracting Asian investors to enhance liquidity and activity in the region’s largest market, Bloomberg reported. 

Foreign ownership in Saudi capital markets has surged over the past five years, hitting record levels in 2023. Net foreign investments reached SR198 billion ($52.77 billion), a 7.7 percent increase from 2022, with total foreign ownership rising to SR401 billion by year-end, according to the Capital Market Authority. 

Direct investment was first permitted in June 2015 with the launch of the Qualified Foreign Investor program. Since then, the CMA has worked to attract global investors and diversify the Kingdom’s previously domestic-focused capital markets. 

Bloomberg said that the Saudi Tadawul Group Holding Co. is particularly targeting Asia, recognizing the potential of investors from both the East and West, citing the group’s Chief Strategy Officer Lee Hodgkinson. 

In a recent episode of Bloomberg’s Tiger Money podcast, the top official emphasized Asia as a key priority, particularly focusing on strengthening ties with Chinese investors. 

“Connecting Chinese and Saudi investment flows bilaterally benefits not just the exchanges and investors but also boosts the liquidity of listed companies,” Hodgkinson said. 

He added that the group is committed to deepening relationships with Chinese counterparts and anticipates increased collaborative efforts. 

In line with this strategy, two exchange-traded funds focused on Saudi Arabian stocks were launched in Shanghai and Shenzhen last month. 

These ETFs reflect the growing investment ties between China and Saudi Arabia as both nations seek to diversify their portfolios away from traditional Western markets. 

Earlier this year, the main exchanges in Hong Kong and Riyadh co-hosted a conference in the Asian city, underscoring the mutual interest in expanding financial product offerings for both Chinese and Middle Eastern investors. 

Hodgkinson also highlighted the vast investment potential from China, India, and other Asian markets. “We see a tremendous opportunity to attract investment into the Kingdom, and ETFs provide an excellent structure for that,” he said. 

Bloomberg said that the Saudi Tadawul Group is looking to strengthen its position in areas beyond equity markets, including debt markets, commodities, indices, data analytics, as well as post-trading services like custody and settlement. 

“We are strong in our core and regional markets, but as we expand internationally, we will need to compete more aggressively,” Hodgkinson added. 

The top official at Tadawul indicated that increased mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations are anticipated. 


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.