Riyadh froze rent increases for five years, property sales soared, and the Tadawul recorded its biggest surge in half a decade.
Tourism momentum accelerated with NEOM’s Magna, airport rankings, and new transport links, while startups, tax compliance, and SME growth shaped the business landscape. Meanwhile, global attention turned to Saudi sport and investment, with Roshn Saudi League media deals and preparations for the FII9 conference in Riyadh.
Catch up on 10 of the best stories this week from Saudi Arabia, as selected by Arabian Business editors.
Saudi Arabia freezes rent increases in Riyadh for 5 years
The Council of Ministers approved the measures following directives from Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, who had ordered reforms to tackle rent increases in the capital, the Saudi Gazette reported.
The regulations prohibit any increase in rental values for properties within Riyadh’s urban boundary for five years, covering both existing and new contracts. The Real Estate General Authority can extend this framework to other cities and governorates with approval from the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
Riyadh property sales jump 63% to $17.5bn; Jeddah up 34% in Saudi real estate surge
The city recorded 35,600 transactions, up 10 per cent compared with the same period in 2024.
In Jeddah, sales values between January and June reached SR18.3bn ($4.9bn), a 34 per cent increase year-on-year. Transaction volumes rose by 25 per cent to 15,200 during the first half of the year.
Saudi Arabia may scrap foreign ownership limit rules; markets see 5-year surge
Markets reacted strongly, with the Tadawul All-Share Index surging more than 5 per cent, its biggest gain in five years. The Kingdom’s Tadawul All-Share Index saw $3.86bn of trades on Wednesday, a near 200 per cent increase on the 90-day average.
It comes after a Bloomberg report stated Saudi Arabia is looking at easing the limits on foreign ownership of listed companies. Reports this week said the Capital Market Authority is looking at scrapping rules limiting the foreign ownership of listed companies. The CMA is said to be considering allowing foreign investors to own a majority share in a listed company, overruling current limits of a maximum 49 per cent.
Saudi Arabia tourism boom: Inside NEOM’s Magna with 12 futuristic resorts, record hotels and luxury communities
None more so than the concept destination Magna, announced by NEOM. The 120km project on Saudi Arabia’s West Coast will be developed with a core focus on cutting-edge technology, world-class architecture, and ultra-modern amenities that seamlessly merge with nature.
From hollowed out mountain hotels and private golf resorts to bespoke wellness retreats and luxury eco-resorts they are among the most stylish and anticipated tourism resorts in the Kingdom. Arabian Business takes a closer look at the 12 destinations shaping one of the world’s most futuristic coastal developments.
Saudi Arabia airport rankings: Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, Qaisumah and Al-Baha lead in GACA report
The report forms part of GACA’s strategy to improve service quality and enhance passenger experience, with performance measured against 11 key criteria.
In the category of international airports handling more than 15m passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh ranked first with a compliance rate of 82 per cent, followed by King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with 73 per cent.
Saudi Arabia to build Qiddiya high-speed rail linking key Riyadh hubs within 30 minutes
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), working with the National Centre for Privatization and PPP (NCP) and Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), has opened registration for the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage of the Qiddiya High-Speed Rail Project.
The first phase of the scheme will be developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model and is positioned as a major component of Riyadh’s future transport network. The high-speed rail line will connect King Salman International Airport, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), and Qiddiya City within 30 minutes, with trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 250kmph.
Saudi startups raise $862m as 80,000 new SMEs launched in Q2 2025
Saudi Arabia issued more than 80,000 new SME commercial records in the second quarter of 2025, bringing the total number of active records in the Kingdom to 1.7m, according to the latest SME Monitor report published by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at).
The report highlighted key sector developments, with e-commerce records reaching 39,366.
Youth owned 38 per cent of total SME records, while women owned 47 per cent, underlining their growing leadership role in entrepreneurship.
Saudi Arabia issues VAT warning as businesses face hefty fines
The authority urged companies to file early through its website or mobile app to avoid penalties ranging from 5 per cent to 25 per cent of the VAT due.
ZATCA encouraged businesses to expedite filing through its official website or the ‘ZATCA’ smartphone application.
Roshn Saudi League secures media deals to broadcast in over 180 territories
Matches will now be broadcast in more than 180 territories via a network of 37 broadcasters, including ESPN, Fox Sports, DAZN, and YouTube.
The agreements reflect accelerating global interest in the Saudi Pro League and aim to elevate its position among the most watched football competitions worldwide.
Saudi Arabia’s FII9 in Riyadh to host 15 world leaders, over 600 speakers and top CEOs
Held under the theme “The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth,” the event will convene more than 15 heads of state, global leaders, change makers and visionary investors.
The focus will be on addressing the paradoxes shaping the future, including progress versus consequences, innovation versus constraints, and fragmentation versus connectivity. With over 600 speakers participating in more than 230 sessions, FII9 reaffirms its role as a global platform for investment, ideas and impact.
