Investment Policy Monitor
-
UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
-
The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
Share
Latest publications
- Home >
- Investment Policy Monitor >
- Saudi Arabia - Relaxes Ownership Limits for Foreign Investors
Saudi Arabia
Relaxes Ownership Limits for Foreign Investors
26 Jun 2019On 26 June 2019, the “Instructions for Foreign Strategic Investors’ Ownership in Listed Companies” (the FSI Instructions) became effective. The FSI Instructions removed the existing limit on foreign ownership of a Saudi-listed company to foreign strategic investors. Under the new regulations, foreign ownership of stocks will no longer be limited to qualified foreign investors (QFIs) (i.e. financial firms with at least US$500 million in assets under management). Also, the previous minimum or maximum ownership limits for strategic investors have been abolished. Holding periods of 24 months continue to apply.
-
Type:
- Entry and establishment (Ownership and control)
-
Industry:
- Not industry specific
-
Sources:
- Capital Market Authority, Instructions for the Foreign Strategic Investors Ownership in Listed Companies, https://cma.org.sa/en/RulesRegulations/Regulations/Documents/Instructions-FSI-Ownership-Listed-Companies-en.pdf, 26 Jun 2019
- Capital Market Authority, The CMA Approves the Instructions for the Foreign Strategic Investors' Ownership in Listed Companies, https://cma.org.sa/en/MediaCenter/PR/Pages/Foreign-Strategic-Investor.aspx, 26 Jun 2019
- Lexology, Saudi Capital Market Authority Announces New Instructions for Foreign Strategic Investors’ Ownership in Listed Companies, https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=412c3b73-2b5d-499b-9f2b-aa4f0446ed35, 16 Aug 2019
-
UNCTAD has been collecting information on changes in national foreign direct investment (FDI) policies on an annual basis since 1992. This collection has provided input to the analysis of global and regional investment policy trends in the World Investment Report, the Investment Policy Monitors and the UNCTAD-OECD Reports on G20 Measures.
In 2024, to further strengthen the quality of reporting, UNCTAD revised the methodology of monitoring investment policy measures. and revised the measures going back to 2012 accordingly.
The Investment Policy Monitor provides the international investment community with country-specific, up-to-date information about the latest developments in foreign investment policies.
Through its monitoring of investment policy changes, UNCTAD offers cutting-edge and innovative contributions to investment policy discourse, and contributes to preparing the ground for future policymaking in the interest of making foreign investment work for sustainable development.
-
The UNCTAD's Investment Policy Monitor database include official measures affecting FDI adopted by United Nations Member States. These encompass measures explicitly targeting FDI (FDI-specific), as well as general investment measures with a clear impact on foreign investment (FDI-related). The measures are either reported directly to UNCTAD by Member States through annual surveys or identified by UNCTAD researchers through publicly accessible sources (such as government websites and specialized policy databases). The classification of measures as more or less favourable is based solely on their potential impact on investors.
Note: Measures are verified, to the fullest extent possible, by referencing government sources. The compilation of measures is not exhaustive.
Disclaimer: the boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.