Saudi Arabia, long revered as the cradle of Islam and home to the majestic deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, is undergoing a bold transformation that’s capturing global attention. With a history steeped in trade, tribal alliances, and religious significance, the Kingdom has evolved into one of the most influential players in the Middle East—not just for its vast oil reserves, but increasingly for its vision of a diversified, knowledge-driven economy. As the largest economy in the Arab world, Saudi Arabia is proving that rich heritage and forward-looking innovation can thrive side by side.
At the heart of this transformation is Riyadh, the nation’s capital and one of the fastest-growing cities in the region. Once a modest desert town, Riyadh has become a booming metropolis of over 7 million people. It now serves as the epicenter of Saudi Arabia’s economic, administrative, and cultural development. With gleaming skyscrapers, financial hubs like King Abdullah Financial District, and mega-projects such as Riyadh Metro and Vision 2030 initiatives, the city embodies the country’s ambition to be a regional—and global—investment powerhouse.
Saudi Arabia’s economy is showing strong momentum. In 2023, the country’s GDP exceeded $1 trillion, and growth has been fueled not only by energy exports but also by a sharp pivot toward non-oil sectors such as tourism, tech, finance, and logistics. Thanks to Vision 2030, the Kingdom is reducing its dependency on oil by investing heavily in economic diversification, regulatory reforms, and private sector development. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has surged as a result—reaching nearly $33 billion in 2022, and projected to rise as major investors turn their attention to new Saudi opportunities.
One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the surge in financial literacy and entrepreneurial energy across the population. With nearly 70% of Saudis under the age of 35, the country is bursting with youthful ambition. Financial education initiatives, accelerator programs, and state-backed entrepreneurship funds are helping to foster a new generation of innovators. Today, more Saudis are exploring forex trading, stock investments, cryptocurrency markets, and digital startups, empowered by better access to technology, improved regulations, and a growing appetite for global engagement.
The digital economy is also gaining serious traction. E-commerce, fintech, and blockchain solutions are on the rise, and the Kingdom’s citizens are rapidly adopting mobile trading apps, virtual wallets, and cross-border financial tools. With a business-friendly environment and a population eager to participate in the global financial system, Saudi Arabia is no longer just a key energy exporter—it’s becoming a dynamic hub for modern investment and entrepreneurship.
For traders in Saudi Arabia, HFM is the leading forex broker, offering competitive spreads, Islamic account options, and robust customer support tailored to regional needs. Exness and AvaTrade also rank highly, providing user-friendly platforms, diverse trading instruments, and strong regulatory frameworks that appeal to both new and experienced Saudi investors.
HFM (formerly HotForex) is widely regarded as the best forex broker for traders in Saudi Arabia. With over 13 years in the global market, HFM offers a comprehensive suite of trading instruments, including forex, metals, energies, indices, shares, and commodities. It’s particularly well-suited for Saudi traders because of its Islamic (swap-free) accounts, which comply with Shariah law—a key feature for many local investors. Spreads are tight, starting from as low as 0.1 pips, and there are multiple account types to suit traders of all experience levels. HFM provides top-tier customer support in Arabic, as well as multilingual assistance, which ensures seamless communication for Saudi clients. Its user-friendly platforms, MetaTrader 4 and 5, are compatible with mobile and desktop, catering to the tech-savvy younger demographic in the Kingdom. Local traders also appreciate HFM’s strong regulatory framework and risk management tools, which foster confidence in international trading. For more information, visit the full HFM Review.
Exness is the second-best forex broker in Saudi Arabia, known for its transparency, instant withdrawals, and incredibly low trading costs. Founded in 2008, Exness has more than 15 years of experience in the financial markets and serves millions of clients worldwide. What makes Exness particularly appealing to Saudi traders is its support for ultra-low spreads, often starting from 0.0 pips on major pairs, and its no-commission trading options. The broker offers a vast range of instruments, including forex, cryptocurrencies, metals, indices, and energies—giving Saudi investors exposure to diversified global markets. Exness is also favored for its Arabic-language platform support and regional client services, making it very user-friendly for locals. The fast execution and availability of advanced trading tools help meet the demands of experienced traders and growing fintech enthusiasts in the country. You can learn more in the complete Exness Review.
AvaTrade ranks third among the best forex brokers in Saudi Arabia, offering a highly secure and intuitive trading environment for both novice and professional investors. With over 15 years in operation, AvaTrade has established itself as a leader in regulated trading across multiple jurisdictions. It offers an array of trading instruments, from forex and CFDs to cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and options. For Saudi traders, AvaTrade’s Islamic account options, consistent spreads (starting from around 0.9 pips), and easy-to-use platforms make it an excellent fit. AvaTradeGo, its proprietary app, alongside MetaTrader support, allows traders to manage their portfolios on the go—perfect for the Kingdom’s digitally connected population. Additionally, AvaTrade offers rich educational content and local language support, which is valuable as financial literacy grows in the region. For a detailed breakdown, visit the AvaTrade Review.
Traders’ Characteristics in Saudi Arabia
Traders in Saudi Arabia are working from a position of growing economic strength, driven by Vision?2030—an ambitious plan launched in 2016 to diversify the economy and expand non-oil sectors like technology, fintech, tourism, and logistics (Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1). The country’s GDP per capita is estimated at around US$33,000 (nominal), ranking it among the top in the Arab world, while non-oil growth reached approximately 4.4% in Q2 2024, cushioning a dip in oil?driven output (Wikipedia).
A relatively young and digitally savvy population helps fuel trading interest—driven by demographics showing over 72% of Saudis are aged 15?64 and more than 24% under age 15 (Grand View Research+7Wikipedia+7Day Trading+7). Financial literacy among adults has improved significantly: in 2023, about 38% of adults had a basic understanding of financial concepts—up from around 30% in 2021—with continued efforts in schools and national campaigns to boost this even further (Focus).
Saudi involvement in global trading markets is gradually rising. Even though Saudi Arabia accounted for just 0.1% of global daily forex turnover in 2022, the domestic foreign exchange market was valued at roughly US$6.2 billion in 2024, and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% through 2033 (Day Trading+1imarcgroup.com+1).
For retail traders, typical investment amounts often start conservatively—ranging from US$500 to US$5,000—with many Saudis experimenting in forex, algorithmic trading, and US equities. Notably, Saudi trading activity in US stocks climbed to SAR?730.6 billion by mid?2025, reflecting nearly 18% of all equity trading among institutional and individual investors (Arab News).
The algorithmic trading market in Saudi Arabia generated revenue of US$682.5 million in 2024 and is projected to reach US$1.47 billion by 2030, representing a robust 13.9% annual growth rate (Grand View Research).
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia is undergoing a remarkable economic transformation, and its people are increasingly at the forefront of global finance and digital entrepreneurship. With a young, tech-savvy population, supportive reforms, and world-class brokers like HFM, Exness, and AvaTrade, Saudi traders are more empowered than ever to explore international markets. As financial literacy continues to rise and investment tools become more accessible, the Kingdom is poised to become a major player in the world of forex trading and beyond.
He is an expert in financial niche, long-term trading, and weekly technical levels.
The primary field of Igor's research is the application of machine learning in algorithmic trading.
Education: Computer Engineering and Ph.D. in machine learning.
Igor regularly publishes trading-related videos on the Fxigor Youtube channel.
To contact Igor write on:
igor@forex.in.rs
