Saudi Arabia is remaking its investment landscape. Where once ownership and control were tightly guarded, recent legislative reforms are unlocking access for global capital, foreign talent, and multinational firms. These structural changes tied to Vision 2030 are opening sectors that were historically restricted, particularly through the relaxation of foreign ownership rules. At the same time, the government has doubled down on localisation mandates that expect more from employers in terms of Saudi national hiring.
Unprecedented economic liberalisation and social reform, will result in capital flowing into infrastructure, tourism, housing, and clean energy. But as new doors open, Saudi Arabia’s success will depend on businesses’ ability to build hybrid teams that pair international know-how with strong national roots.
Saudi Arabia now presents a more complex operating environment for developers, investors, and operators, one that anticipates global participation and expects domestic capability building in equal measure.
Jump To:
- What’s Changed for Foreign Ownership
- How Global Capital Is Responding
- What Growth Means for Hiring in Real Estate, Energy, Infrastructure
- Delivering Integrated Talent for a New Market Model
- Partnering for Growth in Saudi’s New Era
What’s Changed for Foreign Ownership
Saudi Arabian authorities have spent the past two years reshaping its regulatory landscape and dismantling long-standing restrictions on foreign ownership, with the aim of making the Kingdom one of the most investable markets in the world. Three reform areas are particularly pivotal:
- Real Estate Reform
The KSA government has amended real estate law to allow foreign individuals and entities to purchase, lease and develop land and property across most of the Kingdom, including Mecca and Medina under specific conditions. From January 2026, historical requirements for a local partner or nominee arrangement are no longer necessary, significantly reducing operational complexity and friction for developers and funds. The lifting of these historical restrictions on foreign ownership aligns with the Kingdom’s plans to drive private sector development of giga-projects. - Land Tax Reform
Saudi Arabia has updated its land tax frameworks, increasing taxes on undeveloped plots. The new 10% tax applies to land parcels of 5,000 square metres or more, located within approved urban boundaries and introduces a unified national model for enforcing and collecting vacant land fees. As foreign ownership of land increases, this measure aims to curb speculative practices and is expected to drive more active development across both local and international holding when more land enters the active development pipeline.
- Capital Market Liberalisation
In parallel, the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has granted full access to the Tadawul stock exchange for foreign institutional investors. Previously restricted to Qualified Foreign Investors (QFIs), the market is now fully liberalised. A clear step toward inclusion in global indices and greater liquidity and a major green light for asset managers, sovereign wealth funds, and real estate investment trusts (REITs).
Taken together, these reforms signal Saudi Arabia’s intent to become a hub for international capital and expertise, on revised terms.
How Global Capital Is Responding
By eliminating foreign ownership restrictions, Saudi Arabia is repositioning itself as an accessible, future-ready economy. For institutional investors, the appeal is significant:
- Greater regulatory clarity and control de-risk capital deployment.
- Giga-project pipelines provide long-term, large-scale opportunities aligned with ESG and diversification mandates.
- Government co-investment and PPP models further stabilise returns.
Already, sovereign funds and international developers are expanding their footprint and increasing their exposure to Saudi projects.
What Growth Means for Hiring in Real Estate, Energy, Infrastructure
The reforms may focus on ownership, but their consequences are operational. The volume and complexity of work now underway in Saudi Arabia have outpaced local supply. Rapid expansion is driving urgent hiring needs across several fronts:
- Real Estate Delivery
With full foreign ownership now possible, firms are seeking placemakers who understand large-scale city-building. This includes development directors, master planners, and asset managers capable of structuring and delivering projects that meet both local regulatory and global institutional standards. - Project Finance
Capital inflows demand professionals who understand how to structure, finance, and deliver projects in a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory context. Private equity, PPP, and sovereign-linked investment vehicles are creating demand for deal-oriented talent. - Renewable Energy
Delivery of national clean energy targets requires engineers, programme managers, and commercial leaders who can operate across hybrid energy systems. Many of these skillsets are still concentrated outside the Kingdom. - Infrastructure and Utilities
Integrating new power, water and transit assets into the grid and linking them with data centres and smart buildings requires infrastructure specialists with global execution experience. - Managing Localisation
National hiring targets apply equally to companies now enabled by foreign ownership reforms. Employers must demonstrate clear progress on specific quotas by sector and role type and there are real consequences for non-compliance, ranging from delayed approvals to fines and loss of bidding rights. That said, localisation doesn’t preclude international hiring. What it does require is intentional workforce design where nationals are placed into meaningful, skills-building roles alongside international experts.
Delivering Integrated Talent for a New Market Model
At BW&P, we support businesses to manage the competing forces of increased foreign access and the continuing mandates for national employment. Nearly 70% of our work is based in Saudi Arabia, and our clients include global investors, sovereign-backed developers, and infrastructure pioneers.
We place CDOs, project finance directors, energy specialists, and delivery leads, all while ensuring teams are equipped to thrive in a Saudi-first operating model. Our strategic approach to team design includes:
- Mapping available local talent against real project delivery needs
- Sourcing international specialists who can build local capability while delivering value from day one
- Advising on workforce structures that meet both regulatory expectations and investor scrutiny
Partnering for Growth in Saudi’s New Era
The opening of Saudi Arabia’s markets to foreign ownership creates meaningful opportunities for firms that can move decisively. But as global capital pours in, the ultimate determinant of success will be talent.
That means securing the right leadership now and designing teams that combine the best of local and international expertise. That’s what modern development demands. And that’s where BW&P delivers.
BWP supports investors, developers, and operators who are serious about their presence in the Kingdom. If your strategy depends on both regulatory readiness and team capability, we can help. Together we can shape the cities of tomorrow.
Get in touch to discuss how BWP can support your talent strategy in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf.