Saudi Roundup: Export Push & Hospitality Initiatives

This week's Saudi Roundup covers new industrial licensing figures, capital market reforms broadening access to financing investment funds, and an AI infrastructure partnership unveiled at FII Miami.

General Business & Economy

Saudi Arabia Targets International Launch of Up to 10 National Brands by End-2026

Saudi is working to enable five to ten national brands to expand internationally by the end of 2026, with target markets spanning Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. More than 200 Saudi brands have been listed on official platforms as capable of international franchising, with specialty coffee and Saudi food concepts accounting for around 60% of export demand. It’s worth noting that the domestic franchising market has exceeded SR60 billion ($16.0 billion) and is projected to grow 35% by 2030.

161 Industrial Licenses Issued in January 2026, SR3.14 Billion in Investment

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 161 new industrial licenses in January 2026. Investments associated with the newly issued licenses exceeded SR3.14 billion ($837 million) and a projected 1,419 jobs across the Kingdom. During the same month, 107 factories commenced production, adding a further SR1.11 billion ($296 million) in investment and approximately 1,437 jobs.

Saudi Arabia Climbs 15 Places in World Happiness Report 2026

Saudi Arabia ranked 22nd globally in the 2026 World Happiness Report—up 15 places—with a life evaluation score of 6.817, placing the Kingdom ahead of the United States (23rd), Canada (25th), and the United Kingdom (29th). Quality-of-life sectors have contributed more than $20.5 billion to Saudi GDP, attracted over $5.8 billion in non-government investment, and increased non-oil exports by more than $5.6 billion.

King Abdulaziz Airport Advances 17 Positions in Skytrax 2026 Rankings

King Abdulaziz International Airport ranked third globally among airports serving 50 to 60 million passengers annually in the Skytrax 2026 rankings and fifth among the world's most improved airports—advancing 17 positions overall to 27th in the top 100.

The airport handled a record 53.4 million passengers in 2025, a 12% increase over 2024, reinforcing its position as a regional aviation hub under Vision 2030's National Transport and Logistics Strategy.

Financial Markets

SAMA Reserves Reach SR1.73 Trillion at End of 2025

The Saudi Central Bank’s (SAMA) reserves increased significantly by about $23 billion by the end of 2025, bringing total reserves to approximately $461 billion, up from around $437 billion at the end of 2024. This reflects an annual growth rate of 5.3%. SAMA’s reserve assets showed consistent growth both annually and quarterly by the end of 2025, with foreign securities and overseas deposits continuing to make up the largest portion of the central bank’s total reserves.

CMA Approves Public Offering of Financing Investment Funds

The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved the public offering and stock market listing of financing investment funds, broadening investor access to the asset class and deepening the Kingdom's capital markets in line with ongoing financial sector development objectives. The amendments allow financing investment funds to be offered publicly, whereas they were previously restricted to private placements, and permit their listing on both the Main Market and the Parallel Market.

AI & Technology

Humain and Turing Launch Enterprise AI Agent Marketplace

Saudi PIF-backed AI company Humain and US-based Turing have announced a partnership to build what they describe as the first marketplace for enterprise-grade AI agents, unveiled at the FII Priority summit in Miami. The platform—hosted on Humain One—will allow companies to discover, deploy, and scale AI agents across core business functions. Turing will become the first US-based customer of the platform, positioning Saudi Arabia as an exporter of AI infrastructure rather than merely an adopter.

Hospitality

AYARA Platform to Develop 50 Business Hotels Across Saudi Arabia by 2029

Announced at FII Priority Miami, AYARA is a $1 billion hospitality platform launched by Dallas-based Patel Family Office and Saudi conglomerate Abdel Hadi A. Al-Qahtani & Sons, aiming to develop 50 business hotels across major Saudi cities by 2029. The platform integrates construction, procurement, and hotel operations to enable faster delivery and cost efficiency, serving corporate travelers and project teams.