Ross Melia explores five common mistakes international companies make in Saudi Arabia and explains why local presence, operational readiness and long-term commitment are critical to success.

August brought a fresh wave of large-scale investment activity to Saudi Arabia, headlined by a PIF-led consortium's 206 billion SAR acquisition of Electronic Arts and a further 136 billion SAR in inward FDI as Vision 2030 enters its next phase.

July saw fresh momentum behind Saudi Arabia's investment pipeline, headlined by Brookfield's roughly $2 billion first close of a PIF-anchored Middle East fund alongside an MoU for I Squared Capital to invest up to $2 billion in the PIF portfolio.

June brought one of the year's most significant policy shifts for international investors, as Saudi Arabia opened its property market to foreign buyers through a new digital portal, while monthly construction contract awards hit a 2026 high of $8 billion.

Saudi Arabia offers significant opportunities for international businesses, but success requires more than market entry alone. Drawing on over 14 years of experience supporting 2,700+ companies, AEI's 6 Ps Framework explores the key principles that drive sustainable growth in the Kingdom: Patience, Presence, Partner, Payment, Planning and Preconceptions. Discover practical insights to help your business establish, grow and thrive in one of the world's most dynamic markets.

Insight from the SBJBC “Doing Business in Saudi Arabia” workshop in Edinburgh explores the evolving UK–Saudi business corridor, the pace of reform under Vision 2030, workforce shifts including Saudization and female participation, and the growing importance of in-market presence. As engagement expands beyond London, regional UK cities are playing an increasing role in Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation.

Saudi Arabia maintained strong momentum in February, marked by regulatory reform, rising foreign reserves, and sustained capital deployment. From eased government contracting rules to $8bn in World Defense Show deals and continued PIF-backed AI investment, the Kingdom continues to reinforce investor confidence and long-term market opportunity.

Saudi Arabia enters 2026 with sustained investment momentum, expanding international partnerships, and targeted policy reform. January’s update highlights record capital inflows, venture funding growth, AI infrastructure investment, Saudisation changes, and rising tourism and innovation activity. Together, these developments reflect a market recalibrating for long-term sustainability while continuing to offer significant opportunity for international businesses.

by Will Perry Overview Rewind to early December 2024 and the AEI team were buzzing around the World Football Summit, speaking on panels, catching up with clients and meeting new faces as the global supply chain of the footballing world gathered in Riyadh. Whether you were in consulting, tech, data, education, manufacturing or just a passionate football fan, at the summit there was great anticipation of a key announcement only a couple of days away – Saudi Arabia winning the b

Understanding the challenges and opportunities of workforce nationalization in Saudi Arabia by Adam Hosier Saudization affects every business operating in KSA and its obligations continue to grow. The nationalization concept itself is simple enough, a government mandated drive to provide ever greater opportunities for its own people, particularly in countries with large expatriate populations. In Saudi the approach, slightly simplified, is that a minimum percentage of Saudi n

by Will Perry Saudi Arabia’s sports scene has dominated the headlines in recent years – and for good reason. From the Saudi Pro League recruiting world-renowned talent, to the successful 2034 World Cup bid, LIV Golf, and the Women’s WTA Finals, the Kingdom is making big moves. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s sports industry is accelerating into a robust, diversified economic sector. Strategic capital deployment, a packed calendar of marquee events and carefully selected part

From billion-dollar tech collaborations to surging venture capital and record-high warehouse occupancy, Saudi Arabia continues to make global headlines. May’s Top Ten stories highlight the Kingdom’s accelerating economic momentum, with standout developments in AI, urban transformation, hospitality, and international policy. Here’s a snapshot of the most talked-about news shaping Saudi Arabia’s business landscape this month.

Saudi Arabia’s transformation is accelerating — and the latest figures make it clear that Vision 2030 is gaining real traction. A record-breaking $41 billion in inbound tourism spending highlights the success of the Kingdom’s efforts to build a thriving visitor economy, with ripple effects across retail, hospitality, transport, and real estate.

Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification efforts and the robust expansion of the non-oil sector.

Saudi Arabia is looking to secure SAR 9 trillion ($2.39 trillion) in investments from the private sector.

Saudi Arabia announced investments worth $14.9 billion in the technological sector on the first day of the LEAP 2025.

Holders of a resident permit in Saudi Arabia must now ensure their resident permit has at least 30 days of validity before applying for an e

Saudi Arabia’s net foreign direct investment saw a quarter-on-quarter rise of 37%.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Bpifrance Assurance Export have signed a memorandum that is, understood to be valued at $10bn.

FIFA announced that Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 has achieved an evaluation score of 419.8 out of 500—the highest ever