Saudi Arabian investors sharply increased their trading in US equities in 2025, redirecting capital away from a domestic market that ranked among the world’s worst performers.
Trading by Saudi financial institutions in US stocks rose to about 254 billion riyals ($68 billion) in the fourth quarter, more than double the level a year earlier, according to data from the Capital Market Authority. US equities accounted for nearly all trading conducted outside the kingdom in the fourth quarter.
At the same time, activity on the Saudi exchange contracted. Total domestic trading fell from more than 1.1 trillion riyals in early 2024 to about 574 billion riyals by the end of 2025.
The divergence reflects starkly different market trajectories. Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index fell 9% in the fourth quarter, taking its annual decline to 13% amid oil-price volatility, fiscal pressures and regional tensions. US markets kept rising: The S&P 500 index gained more than 16% for the year, driven largely by tech stocks and investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence.
Although the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund has been reducing its holdings of US-listed equities, it has still funneled significant capital into the country. Notable Public Investment Fund deals include last year’s $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts Inc. and a recent $3 billion investment in Elon Musk’s xAI via a subsidiary.
Saudi Arabia’s IPO market — once a bright spot — has also cooled, with a string of weak debuts and a slow start to new share sales this year. Meanwhile, companies in the US are preparing a new wave of large listings, including SpaceX, which could unseat Saudi Aramco as the world’s largest IPO, and Anthropic PBC and OpenAI Inc.
Even as local investors pull back from domestic equities, regulators have stepped up efforts to attract foreign capital. Authorities recently opened the market to a broader range of international investors and are considering rule changes that would allow majority foreign ownership of Saudi-listed companies, a move analysts say could unlock billions of dollars in passive inflows.
Regulators have also encouraged companies to allocate larger portions of IPOs to retail investors to boost local participation. Some banks have pushed back, arguing the policy risks forcing shares onto a segment where demand remains uneven while limiting allocations to foreign institutions.
