The recent announcement that the Saudi Stock Market will open to foreign investors is causing a surge in the market for investors, according to a report in Bloomberg:

As a reflection of the economic opportunities and friendlier investment environment, Saudi Arabia received about 40% of the foreign investments flowing into the Arab region and the volume of its foreign direct investment (FDI) has reached about $199 billion.

Nandagopal J. Nair in Quartz discusses what foreign investors might expect from Saudi Arabia’s $400 billion stock market.

While currently stymied by restrictions that allow non-resident foreigners outside of GCC states to access the TASI only through equity swaps and exchange-traded funds, there is a growing sense that change is not too far off and many investors are putting down stakes.

The Committee for International Trade is active in many countries promoting Saudi trade. In the United States it is a primary organizer of the US-Saudi Business Opportunities Forums that have been held in Chicago (2010) and Atlanta (2011).

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s biggest economy, represents an “exceedingly” strong market for U.S. companies, Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg said.