Saudi outbound greenfield investment jumped 90% to $3.3 billion in H1
Saudi companies increased overseas spending by 90% to $3.3 billion in the first half of 2026, while global foreign direct investment plans fell by 38%. A Saudi minister highlighted expanded public-private partnerships between Riyadh and Beijing at an event in Shacman.
Saudi Arabia recorded a significant surge in international business expansion during the first six months of 2026. Outbound greenfield investments reached $3.3 billion, representing a 90% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth occurred even as global announcements for foreign capital expenditure contracted by 38%, dropping to $538.2 billion. According to data from Emirates NBD, Saudi Arabia was the sole market among five tracked regions that recorded positive growth in this metric. The remaining regions included India, Turkiye, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. Thirty-nine new projects were announced globally during this six-month window. A majority of these ventures, comprising over 50%, consisted of multi-plant programs located in Spain and Italy. Renewable energy firms contributed substantially to this expansion. Other sectors involved aviation, healthcare, and engineering services. Initial investments in Syria were also part of the pipeline as reconstruction needs arose. In Beijing, the Kingdom hosted a major exhibition on investment and trade scheduled for 2026. An assistant to the Saudi Ministry of Investment delivered a keynote address at the Shacman venue, emphasizing deepening public-private sector ties. The goal was to establish joint ventures focused on localizing capabilities, transferring knowledge, and building integrated value chains.
