Eighty-Five Percent of Indian Businesses See Saudi Arabia as Top Investment Destination: HSBC Report
Indian firms rank Saudi Arabia above all surveyed markets, with 78 percent planning to boost investments within six months
Eighty-five percent of Indian companies surveyed said they view Saudi Arabia as an attractive destination for trade and investment, the highest proportion among eight global markets, according to a new report by HSBC.
The finding coincides with the Kingdom’s efforts under its Vision 2030 framework to diversify its economy and invite broader foreign participation.
The report, based on responses from some 4,000 senior decision-makers at international firms earning between US$50 million and US$500 million annually, shows that 78 percent of Indian businesses plan to increase investment in Saudi Arabia within the next six months.
That is the strongest commitment for any country outside the Middle East.
Among the Indian respondents, 60 percent cited Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing economy as a key attraction, 56 percent pointed to stability and 51 percent to business-friendly policies.
Conversely, the main barriers flagged were foreign-ownership restrictions (35 percent) and market competition (35 percent).
Indian and Saudi economic ties are already substantial.
India is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest trading partner, while Saudi Arabia ranks among India’s top five, with bilateral trade reaching US$41.9 billion in fiscal year 2024-25—India’s exports to the Kingdom at US$11.8 billion and imports at US$30.1 billion.
Indian firms identifying business opportunities in Saudi Arabia are targeting sectors such as information technology, healthcare, logistics, mining and startups, aligned with the Kingdom’s shift from hydrocarbons to diversified growth.
Indian industry leaders say the alignment between India’s development agenda and Saudi Arabia’s transformation road map could provide “synergistic opportunities” for mutual growth.
The HSBC findings highlight a broader trend of international investors placing Saudi Arabia among their priority markets for the coming five-year horizon, especially in light of its stable macroeconomic outlook and strategic reforms.
For Indian companies, the report points to a strategic inflection point: beyond being a buyer of Saudi oil and gas, India is now becoming a partner in Saudi Arabia’s industrial and services-led expansion.
As Saudi Arabia continues to open its economy and invite greater foreign collaboration, Indian business leaders appear poised to deepen their presence—tapping into infrastructure, digital transformation and non-oil sectors as the bilateral partnership enters its next phase.
The finding coincides with the Kingdom’s efforts under its Vision 2030 framework to diversify its economy and invite broader foreign participation.
The report, based on responses from some 4,000 senior decision-makers at international firms earning between US$50 million and US$500 million annually, shows that 78 percent of Indian businesses plan to increase investment in Saudi Arabia within the next six months.
That is the strongest commitment for any country outside the Middle East.
Among the Indian respondents, 60 percent cited Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing economy as a key attraction, 56 percent pointed to stability and 51 percent to business-friendly policies.
Conversely, the main barriers flagged were foreign-ownership restrictions (35 percent) and market competition (35 percent).
Indian and Saudi economic ties are already substantial.
India is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest trading partner, while Saudi Arabia ranks among India’s top five, with bilateral trade reaching US$41.9 billion in fiscal year 2024-25—India’s exports to the Kingdom at US$11.8 billion and imports at US$30.1 billion.
Indian firms identifying business opportunities in Saudi Arabia are targeting sectors such as information technology, healthcare, logistics, mining and startups, aligned with the Kingdom’s shift from hydrocarbons to diversified growth.
Indian industry leaders say the alignment between India’s development agenda and Saudi Arabia’s transformation road map could provide “synergistic opportunities” for mutual growth.
The HSBC findings highlight a broader trend of international investors placing Saudi Arabia among their priority markets for the coming five-year horizon, especially in light of its stable macroeconomic outlook and strategic reforms.
For Indian companies, the report points to a strategic inflection point: beyond being a buyer of Saudi oil and gas, India is now becoming a partner in Saudi Arabia’s industrial and services-led expansion.
As Saudi Arabia continues to open its economy and invite greater foreign collaboration, Indian business leaders appear poised to deepen their presence—tapping into infrastructure, digital transformation and non-oil sectors as the bilateral partnership enters its next phase.
