How to Invest in Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia is best known by investors for its huge oil production, which holds around 260 billion containers of oil reserves, including about one-fifth of the world’s stock.
While the biggest players in the oil industry may be largely off-limits to investors, they can benefit from many other industries within a relatively prosperous nation.
Here are some options for investors in Saudi Arabia’s economy, major stock exchanges, and American companies to take over their companies.
Invest in Saudi Arabia
Tadwul: The Saudi Stock Exchange
Tadawul is the only securities exchange in the nation and is supervised by the Capital Markets Authority. With around 150 listed companies, the market is heavily weighted towards the financial services and power industries but also includes many other sectors. Overall, the index provides investors with a well-rounded exposure to the country’s economy.
The primary measure of Tadavul is the Tadavul All Share Index (TASI), which is similar to the S&P 500 in the United States. After commencing at 1,282.87 in 1994, the average increased to over 11,000 before falling to its contemporary level, which was around 7,103.52.
Saudi Aramco and Saudi Arabia’s Economy
Saudi Arabia’s largest company Saudi Arabia Oil Company, informally known as Saudi Aramco. While the organization has an evaluated value of $ 780 billion, making it the most relevant company in the world, it is state-owned and difficult for investors. However, several publicly traded companies form a subsidiary market for petrol supplies.
Notwithstanding the dominance of the oil industry, the Saudi government is actively trying to expand its economy and promote growth through privatization.
Enterprises such as electricity and telecommunications are already being privatized, while new industrial cities are being designed to support new developments outside the energy industry.
In May 2012, the country also declared that it would enter the large-scale alternative energy industry. The government hopes to create more than 15,000 jobs over the next decade by focusing on solar power from solar panel manufacturing and solar agriculture operating angles.
Investment rights and opposition in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia represents an engaging investment destination when energy prices are increasing. But some investors examine the long-term security of the country’s economy, which relies on a limited resource such as crude oil. And whether the diversification of government in other industries will work or not can be seen.
Benefits of investing in Saudi Arabia include:
To spend significant capital – Saudi Arabia regularly runs a strong account surplus for its significant crude oil revenues, which it gives the government to spend on economic development programs to further the economy.
Recently Privatization – The government of Saudi Arabia has taken measures to privatize certain industries, such as electricity, and telecommunications, to open their industries to outside investment, especially in non-energy markets.
Risks of investment in Saudi Arabia include:
Dependence on crude oil – Saudi Arabia derives the bulk of its revenue from crude oil and other forms of energy, meaning that any drop in the price of crude oil can have a significant negative impact on the country.
Monarchical government – is a monarchical form of government in Saudi Arabia where the king combines legislative, executive, and judicial functions; It has received high corruption ratings from bodies such as Transparency International.
Investment in Saudi Arabia
Investing in Saudi Arabia is easiest to accomplish through an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that trades on US exchanges. As of early May 2012, the only alternative to investment in Saudi Arabia has been the Middle Eastern ETFs.
Middle Eastern ETFs include:
- iShares MSCI Israel Capped Index Fund (EIS)
- WisdomTree Middle East Dividend Fund (GULF)
- Market Vectors Gulf States (MES)
Two new proposed ETFs include:
- Market Vectors Saudi Arabia ETF
- Market Vectors Saudi Arabia Small-Cap ETF
Buying a Property in Saudi Arabia
The price is negotiated between the buyer and seller, or through a facility such as real estate brokers or lawyers. Foreigners are permitted to hold immovable property but are subject to the approval of the licensing authority. Foreign investors can buy property for construction and investment, but it also requires prior approval. Foreign ownership is prohibited in Mecca and Medina.
What is the procedure for registering property in Saudi Arabia?
The process of property registration in Saudi Arabia typically lasts no more than a few days and has three main components:
- The buyer first performs a title search on the property through the Notary Public Department.
- Procedures are conducted by the buyer to verify that the details of the property provided by the seller match those in the agency’s records. To access this information, the buyer needs authorization from the seller. This process is done to obtain an official detailed description of the property and to check if any registration has been registered on the property.
- Buyers and sellers make appointments with an online notary public.
- To request a transfer, parties must request an appointment online at www.moj.gov.sa; an Appointment reservation is immediate.
- On the scheduled day, the buyer and seller first go to the first window of the Notary Public Department. Employees will check that all necessary documents are in place and correct. The required documents are as follows: – Identity card – Certified check – Deed/proof of ownership – Original copies of articles of association.
- The notary issues the deed and signs the parties before the notary.
- The parties first checked at the front desk and were given a room number where the transfer would take place. The notary then retrieves the required documents, conducts a final check, and approves the transaction and the owner’s name change.The buyer then hands over the check to the seller and a new deed is issued. This deed with the notary’s signature is handed over to the buyer, while another copy with the signature of both other signatories is stored in the notary.
How much is the brokerage fee?
According to regulations in Saudi Arabia, brokerage fees may not exceed 2.5% of the listing price of the property sold, whether paid by the buyer or seller.
