Country Profile
From The Report: Saudi Arabia 2025
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Saudi Arabia occupies a central position in the Middle East, shaped by its role as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and one of the world’s largest holders of proven oil reserves. In 2024 Saudi Arabia recorded SR119bn ($31.7bn) in foreign direct investment inflows, a 24% increase from 2023 – one of the highest levels in its recent history. This reflects growing investor confidence in the country’s transformation and aligns with the Vision 2030 drive to channel international capital into the renewable energy, manufacturing, digital infrastructure, logistics and tourism sectors. Although oil revenue remains a key source of fiscal strength, global energy transitions and shifting geopolitical dynamics are reinforcing the urgency of diversifying the economy. As a result, both creating a more dynamic, knowledge-based economic model and expanding non-oil activity are at the core of the Kingdom’s forward-looking long-term development strategy.

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Saudi Arabia occupies a central position in the Middle East, shaped by its role as the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites and one of the world’s largest holders of proven oil reserves. The Kingdom’s modern state emerged in the early 20th century and was rapidly transformed following the commercial discovery of oil in 1938 and the subsequent development of its national energy industry. Its strategic location linking the Gulf to Africa and Asia has enabled it to become a pivotal actor in global energy markets, regional diplomacy and international trade. Today, Saudi Arabia is the only Arab country represented in the G20, reflecting both its…