Financial Services & Banking

What the 49% ceiling costs

August 24, 2026

Morgan Stanley estimates that raising Saudi Arabia's 49% foreign ownership ceiling to 75% would draw about $4.3 billion in passive inflows, and that removing the cap entirely would draw about $7.4 billion. Saudi Arabia is the last major Gulf market keeping a blanket 49% limit.

Okaz

The difference between $4.3 billion and $7.4 billion represents the cost of fully removing the cap. Most passive funds are released when the ceiling is eliminated, rather than when it is raised to 75%.

Osamah Alfadda
|
CEO

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Abdullah Alkherb
|
Senior Partner

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