Information

This barrier is unrelated to the end of the transition period, following the United Kingdom's departure from the EU.

Public ID: PID-B8DZPB

Foreign investment is restricted in certain sectors in Saudi Arabia

in Saudi Arabia

Trade barrier summary

Saudi Arabia have opened up many sectors of the economy to foreign investment, though this remains banned in some sectors including:

Manufacturing
▪ Oil exploration, drilling, and production, except mining services listed in categories 5115 and 883 of the International Standard Industrial Classification Codes

Services
▪ Catering to military sectors
▪ Security and detective services
▪ Real estate investment in the holy cities of Makkah and Medina
▪ Tourist orientation and guidance services for religious tourism related to Hajj and Umrah
▪ Recruitment offices
▪ Commission agents, internationally classified in Central Product Classification (CPC) 621
▪ Services provided by midwives, nurses, physical therapy services, and quasi-doctoral services, internationally classified in Central Product Classification (CPC) 93191
▪ Poison treatment centres, blood banks, and quarantine services

▪ Fisheries

Further information can be found at: https://www.misa.gov.sa/media/1128/moi-service-manual-8th-edition-en-v4.pdf

Sectors affected

  • Food and drink
  • Security
  • Healthcare services
  • Technology and smart cities
  • Consumer and retail
  • Railways
  • Maritime
  • Energy
  • Airports
  • Medical devices and equipment
  • Defence
  • Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology
  • Creative industries

Resolved

No

Date reported

6 July 2020

Last updated

25 November 2021

Public ID

PID-B8DZPB

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