Saudi non-listed corporate debt jumps over 500% as investors diversify

Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority continues to introduce new investment products and structural reforms to diversify investor portfolios beyond equities. Shutterstock
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Updated 31 August 2025
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Saudi non-listed corporate debt jumps over 500% as investors diversify

  • Traded government debt instruments climbed 132.4% to SR15.60 billion
  • Foreign investment in Saudi financial market grew 1.65% to SR481.8 billion

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s debt instruments market rose in the second quarter of the year, led by non-listed corporate debt, which jumped 513.8 percent year on year to SR1.2 billion ($320 million) from roughly SR200 million. 
According to the Capital Market Authority’s quarterly statistical bulletin, traded government debt instruments climbed 132.4 percent to SR15.60 billion, compared to SR6.72 billion in the same period of 2024.
This comes as the CMA continues to introduce new investment products and structural reforms to diversify investor portfolios beyond equities. The regulator also published a consultation proposing a framework for special purpose acquisition companies on Nomu, the Kingdom’s parallel market, to facilitate private sector listings and expand investment vehicle options. 
“The Saudi financial market posted positive performance across a number of investment instruments by the end of the second quarter of 2025, as investors moved toward diversifying their portfolios and investment products, and not limiting themselves to equities alone, in an effort to maximize returns and reduce risks,” the CMA said. 
Individual investment portfolios in the main market rose 11.95 percent to SR13.91 million, while the number of individual investors holding these portfolios increased 6.7 percent to SR6.90 million. Managed portfolios climbed 29.5 percent to 103,630, with total assets up 9 percent to SR352.60 billion. 
These figures “reflect the expansion of the individual investor base and the increasing engagement with the diverse investment instruments available in the capital market,” the CMA said. 
Foreign investment in the Saudi financial market grew 1.65 percent year on year to SR481.8 billion, with foreign assets held by clients at financial institutions rising from SR21.3 billion in the first quarter to SR26.1 billion in the second quarter. 
“The increases seen in foreign markets, particularly the recent rise in the US market, were among the main reasons for the increase in asset values, as the S&P 500 index rose by more than 10 percent in the second quarter,” the authority added. 
The investment funds sector also posted strong gains. The number of funds rose 24.8 percent to 1,735, with total assets up 27.8 percent to SR781.41 billion. Subscribers climbed 30.16 percent to over 1.76 million, the highest in history, and real estate funds accounted for 31.6 percent of public subscribers and 71 percent of private subscribers. 
Listed corporate debt instruments rose 13.3 percent in traded value to SR426 million. New non-listed corporate debt issuances jumped 94.37 percent to SR3.01 billion, while outstanding issuances climbed 16.2 percent to SR124.87 billion. 
“The results confirm the strength of the Saudi capital market and its investment appeal, as the Capital Market Authority continues to develop its systems and enhance its legislative and regulatory framework in line with international best practices,” the authority said.  
“This enhances the market’s ability to attract domestic and foreign investors and supports the diversification of investment instruments, contributing to economic growth targets in line with Saudi Vision 2030,” it added.


Acwa signs key terms to develop 5GW of renewable energy capacity in Turkiye

Updated 23 February 2026
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Acwa signs key terms to develop 5GW of renewable energy capacity in Turkiye

JEDDAH: Saudi utility giant Acwa has signed key investment agreements with Turkiye’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to develop up to 5 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, starting with 2GW of solar power across two plants in Sivas and Taseli.

Under the investment agreement, Acwa will develop, finance, and construct, as well as commission and operate both facilities, according to a press release.

The program builds on the company’s first investment in Turkiye, the 927-megawatt Kirikkale Independent Power Plant, valued at $930 million, which offsets approximately 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, the statement added.

A separate power purchase agreement has been concluded with Elektrik Uretim Anonim Sirketi for the sale of electricity generated by each facility.

Turkiye aims to boost solar and wind capacity to 120GW by 2035, supported by around $80 billion in investment, while recent projects have already helped prevent 12.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and reduced reliance on imported natural gas.

Turkiye’s energy sector has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years, with renewable power emerging as a central pillar of its strategy.

Raad Al-Saady, vice chairman and managing director of ACWA, said: “The signing of the IA (implementation agreement) and PPA key terms marks a pivotal moment in Acwa’s partnership with Turkiye, reflecting the country’s strong potential as a clean energy leader and manufacturing powerhouse.”

He added: “Building on our long-standing presence, including the 927MW Kirikkale Power Plant commissioned in 2017, this step elevates our partnership to a new level,” Al-Saady said.

In its statement, Acwa said the 5GW renewable energy program will deliver electricity at fixed prices, enhancing predictability for grid planning and supporting long-term industrial investment.

By replacing imported fossil fuels with domestically generated clean energy, the initiative is expected to reduce Turkiye’s exposure to global energy market volatility, strengthening energy security and lowering long-term power costs.

The company added that the economic impact will extend beyond the anticipated investment of up to $5 billion in foreign direct investment, with thousands of jobs expected during the construction phase and hundreds of high-skilled roles created during operations.

The energy firm concluded that its existing progress in Turkiye reflects a strong appreciation for Turkish engineering, construction, and manufacturing capacity, adding that localization has been a strategic priority, and it has already achieved 100 percent local employment at its developments in the country.