Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,325

The best-performing stock on the main market was Saudi Industrial Development Co. Getty
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Updated 05 January 2026
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,325

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index edged down on Monday, shedding 38.83 points, or 0.37 percent, to close at 10,325.20.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR4.02 billion ($1.07 billion), with 61 listed stocks advancing and 191 declining.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also declined by 144.88 points, or 0.62 percent, to close at 23,226.94.

The MSCI Tadawul Index advanced by 0.11 percent to 1,371.06.

The best-performing stock on the main market was Saudi Industrial Development Co., with its share price rising 6.32 percent to SR12.44.

Al Yamamah Steel Industries Co.’s share price increased by 6.06 percent to SR35.

Cherry Trading Co. also saw its stock climb 5.27 percent to SR26.16.

Conversely, the share price of the National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia, also known as Bahri, edged down 5.87 percent to SR26.64.

On the announcements front, SAL Saudi Logistics Services Co. said it intends to issue a riyal-denominated sukuk through a private placement, both inside and outside the Kingdom.

In a Tadawul statement, the company said the amount and terms of the sukuk offering will be determined at a later stage, based on prevailing market conditions.

SAL added that the proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, capital expenditure plans to support future expansions and projects, and to achieve long-term financial and strategic objectives.

The company has appointed J.P. Morgan Saudi Arabia and SNB Capital as joint lead managers and bookrunners for the sukuk offering.

SAL’s share price declined by 0.63 percent to SR158.90.

In another announcement, Almarai Co. said the diesel price increase from January is expected to result in additional direct costs of approximately SR70 million for the company this year.

The firm added it will continue to focus on business efficiency, cost optimization, and other initiatives to mitigate the impact of the diesel price increase.

Almarai’s share price fell 3.50 percent to SR41.90.


Saudi stock market opens its doors to foreign investors

Updated 06 January 2026
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Saudi stock market opens its doors to foreign investors

RIYADH: Foreigners will be able to invest directly in Saudi Arabia’s stock market from Feb. 1, the Kingdom’s Capital Market Authority has announced.

The CMA’s board has approved a regulatory change which will mean the capital market, across all its segments, will be accessible to investors from around the world for direct participation.

According to a statement, the approved amendments aim to expand and diversify the base of those permitted to invest in the Main Market, thereby supporting investment inflows and enhancing market liquidity.

International investors' ownership in the capital market exceeded SR590 billion ($157.32 billion) by the end of the third quarter of 2025, while international investments in the main market reached approximately SR519 billion during the same period — an annual rise of 4 percent.

“The approved amendments eliminated the concept of the Qualified Foreign Investor in the Main Market, thereby allowing all categories of foreign investors to access the market without the need to meet qualification requirements,” said the CMA, adding: “It also eliminated the regulatory framework governing swap agreements, which were used as an option to enable non-resident foreign investors to obtain economic benefits only from listed securities, and the allowance of direct investment in shares listed on the Main Market.”

In July, the CMA approved measures to simplify the procedures for opening and operating investment accounts for certain categories of investors. These included natural foreign investors residing in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as those who had previously resided in the Kingdom or in any GCC country. 

This step represented an interim phase leading up to the decision announced today, with the aim of increasing confidence among participants in the Main Market and supporting the local economy.

Saudi Arabia, which ‌is more than halfway ‍through an economic plan ‍to reduce its dependence on oil, ‍has been trying to attract foreign investors, including by establishing exchange-traded funds with Asian partners in Japan and Hong Kong.