Growth Spike: Over 1.74 million Saudi women participate in the stock market

In a significant development for the Saudi financial sector, the Capital Market Authority (CMA) is currently studying the feasibility of opening the Saudi stock market to investors worldwide. This potential move could further boost the market's growth and attract global investment.

The second quarter of 2025 saw a surge in domestic and foreign participation, with the number of individual investors reaching an all-time high of 6.9 million. The rise in female investors was particularly noteworthy, with the number of women investing in the Saudi stock market surpassing 1.74 million for the first time. This increase represented a significant 26,000 more than the previous quarter and 94,300 more than the same period a year earlier.

The CMA also reported that the number of investment portfolios held by individuals in Saudi Arabia increased to nearly 13.91 million by the end of the second quarter. The total number of female investors in the second quarter of 2025 was 1.746 million.

Foreign participation in the Saudi equity market has been on the rise, with foreign investors from outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accounting for a record 35% of Saudi equity purchases during the second quarter of 2025. The Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) is actively involved in developing the market and attracting global investors, as evidenced by the recent increase in foreign investment.

Saudi Arabia has been actively working to attract high-frequency trading firms and broaden its Initial Public Offering (IPO) pipeline. The country's efforts have not gone unnoticed, with Saudi-listed shares on the Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) trading at a 32% discount compared to stocks on the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI) in July 2025.

The CMA recently announced that the recent move to allow residents of GCC countries to trade directly in the Saudi market was a "logical and natural" step. The institution currently conducting the study on the possibility of the global opening of the Saudi stock market is not explicitly mentioned. However, the CMA's focus on attracting global investors and the Saudi Exchange's active role in this pursuit suggest that the study is likely ongoing.

The rise in women's presence in the equity market is reflected in this record-high number, signalling a positive trend towards financial inclusion and gender equality in Saudi Arabia. As the study progresses, it will be interesting to see how the CMA's plans for global access to the Saudi stock market unfold and what impact they may have on the market's growth and diversity.