Riyadh – Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia has moved up three places in the 2026 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Confidence Index published by Kearney, entering the world’s top 10 investor destinations for the first time. The Kingdom ranked 10th globally, compared to 13th in 2025, while retaining its position as the third most attractive emerging market for a third consecutive year.

The report points to strengthening international investor sentiment toward Saudi Arabia, driven by solid macroeconomic fundamentals, sustained government-led investment activity, and the Kingdom’s relatively strong resilience to regional uncertainties. It also highlights a broadly positive outlook for the Saudi economy over the next three years, with investors ranking it among the more promising global markets.

According to the findings, Saudi Arabia’s appeal is underpinned by several key strengths, including its natural resource base, economic stability, business environment, and growing focus on technological innovation. The Kingdom performed particularly well in areas linked to natural resources and overall economic performance, alongside steady improvements in business climate and innovation indicators.

At the same time, the report identifies areas that remain important for long-term competitiveness, notably workforce skills development, governance and transparency frameworks, and infrastructure quality. It suggests that continued reform efforts in human capital, regulatory efficiency, and infrastructure development will be essential to sustaining recent gains.

Overall, the index reflects a continued upward shift in global investor perception of Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the impact of ongoing economic reforms while highlighting the need for further structural improvements to maintain momentum in attracting foreign direct investment.