A Snap–Kearney study found an 8-point gap between Saudi digital ad-spend growth and e-commerce growth; 30%+ of Saudi consumers find advertising culturally off-key.
The takeaway: A third of Saudi consumers feel that the ads don't represent them; the biggest growth driver isn't budget, but rather cultural fluency.
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SAR 159.1 billion came in
Foreign direct investment inflows into Saudi Arabia rose 33.5% in 2025 to SAR 159.1 billion, from SAR 119.2 billion in 2024, GASTAT data show, while outflows rose 98.5% to SAR 77.7 billion, so net FDI rose only 1.7% to SAR 81.4 billion. By activity, construction drew the largest inflows at SAR 34.5 billion, followed by manufacturing at SAR 33.4 billion; by country, Luxembourg recorded the highest net inflows at SAR 24.4 billion, followed by the UAE at SAR 9.4 billion.
According to GASTAT, outflows mean foreign investors are reducing their stakes in Saudi companies by repaying loans, taking dividends, or exiting, rather than Saudi money leaving the country. Since net FDI is nearly unchanged, anyone presenting investment momentum to a board should focus on the net figure instead of just the inflow.
Saudis are sending more abroad
Saudi nationals' remittances abroad rose 20% year on year to SAR 5.8 billion in August, and expatriate remittances rose 1% to SAR 13.5 billion. Over eight months, expatriates sent around SAR 113 billion. Saudi nationals sent around SAR 44.1 billion, down from SAR 47.5 billion a year earlier.
Expatriate flows have stayed steady at about SAR 113 billion over the past eight months. For a payments company looking to grow, it makes more sense to focus on better fees and faster service for Saudi senders instead of waiting for the market to get bigger.
Aramco's SAR 117 billion quarter
Aramco's adjusted net income rose 9% to SAR 117 billion in Q3 2026, from SAR 107.2 billion a year earlier. Free cash flow rose to SAR 105.8 billion from SAR 88.4 billion, and adjusted EBIT in refining, chemicals and marketing rose 234% on better refining margins. The board declared a SAR 82.1 billion base dividend, up 3.5%. Reported net profit rose 41.3% to SAR 137.4 billion, against expectations of SAR 110.8 billion.
This quarter’s growth was driven by higher refining margins, not by increased volumes. Treasury teams at Aramco’s suppliers should plan for 2027 with the expectation that these margins will shrink when supply returns to normal.
