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Saudi Arabia × Transactions & Deals
Buying, selling and investing across borders, from the first structure to closing and after. In Saudi Arabia, that means local law, local regulators and local practice, handled by a qualified professional who practises there.
On request
No WONE Global Partner holds this yet. Send us your requirement: WONE Global confirms whether a vetted Associate firm can act, tells you who it is and checks for conflicts before any work begins.
Bring a requirement →Riyadh · Tuesday 3 November
21:06
Local time
What the rules say in Saudi Arabia
From the Saudi Arabia market guide: the points that matter most for transactions & deals, each with the source it was checked against.
Full guide · Source-checked research100% of statements checked against a source119 checked against an official source54 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-19Not yet professionally reviewed
The Investment Law repealed the Foreign Investment Law of 1421H (2000), guarantees equal treatment of local and foreign investors in similar circumstances, and requires a foreign investor to register with the Ministry of Investment (MISA) before investing.
Approved by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 40 (16 July 2024) and in force 180 days after publication in the Official Gazette; the US State Department reports entry into force in February 2025. Investment in securities under the Capital Market Law is outside the registration requirement.Ministry of Investment (MISA) · checked 2026-10-19The General Authority for Competition (GAC) reviews mergers and acquisitions that meet the notification criteria, and may approve a transaction, approve it with conditions or reject it.
Each party to a notifiable transaction is under the obligation to notify. The Competition Law, amended in 2019, also covers practices abroad that affect competition in the Kingdom.US Department of State · checked 2026-10-18The Bankruptcy Law in force since 2018 provides for financial restructuring to keep a distressed business operating and for orderly liquidation managed by a court-appointed licensed bankruptcy trustee, and recognises distinct creditor classes such as secured creditors.
Procedures also cover small and medium-sized enterprises.US Department of State · checked 2026-10-18Foreign investment is prohibited in nine activities, including oil exploration, drilling and production, catering to military sectors, security and detective services, Hajj and Umrah tourist guidance, recruitment offices, commission agents, certain nursing and allied health services, fishing of marine animals, and poison centres, blood banks and quarantine services.
Certain mining-related services are excepted from the oil prohibition. Separately, full foreign ownership is excluded in activities such as land transport, military equipment manufacturing and most telecommunications services.US Department of State · checked 2026-10-18Listed companies may own real estate in the Kingdom, including Makkah and Madinah, but a listed company holding property there for purposes other than its own or its branches' headquarters must keep non-Saudi ownership of its shares and convertible debt instruments at or below 49% at all times and may not have a foreign strategic investor as a holder.
Issued by CMA Board Resolution 1-8-2026 dated 21 January 2026 under the Capital Market Law and the Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis Law. Investment funds and special purpose entities are also covered.Capital Market Authority (CMA) · checked 2026-10-19The Private Sector Participation Law, in force since 2021, governs privatisation and public-private partnership projects and provides four procurement methods: public competition (the default), limited competition, direct contracting and unsolicited proposals.
Projects are run with the National Center for Privatization and PPP.US Department of State · checked 2026-10-18A foreign investor must obtain MISA's approval before engaging in an activity on the list of excluded activities, and before a change in ownership of an investment in a restricted activity.
Activities on the list of excluded (prohibited or restricted) activities.Ministry of Investment (MISA) · checked 2026-10-19An economic concentration must be notified to the General Authority for Competition (GAC) where the participating undertakings' combined worldwide annual sales exceed SAR 200 million, the target's worldwide annual sales exceed SAR 40 million and the parties' combined sales in Saudi Arabia exceed SAR 40 million.
The target must contribute to the Saudi sales figure. For mergers and joint ventures, at least two parties must each have worldwide sales above SAR 40 million. The combined threshold was raised from SAR 100 million by a GAC decision of 15 March 2023.Chambers and Partners (GLA & Company) · checked 2026-10-19Read the full guide: Deals, merger control, investment screening and insolvency
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WONE Global Partners in Saudi Arabia
No named lead for Transactions & Deals yet — these WONE Global professionals already work in Saudi Arabia and can bring the right local colleague in.
Riyadh · Saudi ArabiaWONE Global Partner · Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Yousef Al-Hussaini (License No. 992) is a seasoned accounting and auditing professional with a career spanning leading roles at Ernst & Young (EY) and one of Saudi Arabia’s largest insurance companies, includin…
Jeddah · Saudi ArabiaWONE Global Partner · Saudi Arabia
Jeddah · Saudi ArabiaAlso in Saudi Arabia
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