- Saudi home practices playing a crucial role in the privatization of the economy
- Govt has devotion to regulatory clarity, co-investment options
The first SuperReturn Saudi Arabia conference took place in Riyadh on January 27 to 28th, 2025, and Riyadh was brimming with enthusiasm. This premier private investment event brought together executives in private capital, venture capital, and family offices for two days of in-depth discussions, effective networking, and proper collaborations.
Kicked-off by Abdulmuhsen Alkhalaf ( pic, below ), the Saudi vice minister of finance, who emphasised that the contribution of private investment to Saudi’s GDP had increased from 14.6 % in 2016 to 23.4 % in Q3 of 2024. This reflects a market-friendly and energetic environment that encourages investment in important and appealing sectors of the nation.
His open remarks were followed by precise speeches, which resembled five-minute floor innings, setting the tone for the panels that followed. From general partners ( GPs ) and limited partners ( LPs ) to family office executives and venture capitalists, all of whom were interested in opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the broader MENA ( Middle East North Africa ) region.
Saudi’s aspirations and dreams are encapsulated in its Vision 2030 plan and progress has been rapid since the plan’s introduction with non-oil activities accounting for 52 % of GDP in 2024 versus 4.9 % ( in 2015 ) before the plan was introduced. Its talent pool has been expanded, and there is more women’s workforce participation than expected ( 36 % ). It was below 10 % before Vision 2030, as women were disallowed to drive ( before September 2017 ) and work ( before 2008 without seeking a guardian’s permission )! SMEs have likewise doubled since 2016, with 45 % owned by Saudis, underscoring a vibrant entrepreneurial habitat.
Key elements and restaurants
The” People Business” of investment: Investors emphasized the long-term, large-scale commitment required to develop the Kingdom’s economy. Co-investment and collaboration positioning came into play as necessary components for success.
Problems in secret markets: Valuation, fee structures, and achievement persistence were recurring themes, with calls for discipline and clear effectiveness monitoring to create buyer trust.
Tech, AI, and companies: The rollout of AI in Saudi Arabia remains emerging at 2.5 %, creating significant opportunities for VC opportunities. Panelists emphasized the need for localized innovation and unusual talent to promote growth in startups and technology.
Family practices as game-changers: Panel featuring top managers like Fares Al Balwi,  , Chairman of Saudi based Al Blagha Holding Company for Investment, and Raied Alseif, CEO of Saudi based Sultan Holding Company, who shed light on Saudi family offices ‘ important roles in transforming private markets, focusing on long-term strategies, world co-investments, and concentrated excellent investments.
Opportunities in technology
Nearly every panel focused on the potential for growth, with almost every panel focusing on technology and AI. While an estimated 40 % of VC deployment globally is in AI related startups, only 2.5 % occurs in Saudi Arabia. Soumaya Ben Beya Dridje, Partner at Rasmal Ventures, the first VC firm established in Doha, Qatar, stressed the need for resilience. ” Investments are not for the faint-hearted. GPs must be passionate, patient, and committed to adding real value”.
Gaming and startup industries also took center stage. Abdullah Altamami, founder &, CEO of Merak Capital, a Saudi-based VC, highlighted the Kingdom’s cultural alignment with gaming. ” With 50 game studios and a young, tech-savvy population, Saudi Arabia is perfectly positioned to create and export local IPs globally”.
Ibrahim Sagna, Executive Chairman of Silverback Holdings, a Mauritius-based private investments firm, echoed this sentiment. ” Startups are emerging as local champions, scaling to the UAE, India, and beyond. Saudi Arabia has the resources and talent to accomplish all of this and more.
Family Offices: Driving private market transformation
A powerful panel involving Fares Al Balwi and Raied Alseif discussed how family offices are revolutionizing private markets, with Raied urging attendees to embrace co-investments:” Partnerships, whether local or global, thrive on trust and alignment. A long-term view is key to success”.
Hamdi Al Zaim, the managing partner of Saudi-based Alma Limited, described how his holding company, which oversees both an international and local portfolio of investments, has changed its investing strategy. ” Concentration in quality is better than quantity”, he said. ” We’ve shifted from making 6–8 deals annually to focusing on 3–4 high-quality investments. This ensures sustainable returns”.
The two-day event concluded each day with rich cultural showcases, including traditional Saudi coffee, sweet dates, and live performances, providing an authentic glimpse into Saudi Arabia’s heritage. These informal settings facilitated further discussions, turning business connections into meaningful relationships.
Saudi Arabia’s significant influence on the MENA region’s and beyond-related private capital dynamics was highlighted in SuperReturn Saudi Arabia 2025.
Saudi Arabia is quickly emerging as the epicenter of transformative investments, a vibrant and sustainable investment landscape, with SuperReturn acting as a platform to catalyze this evolution, from regulatory milestones to burgeoning industries like gaming, AI, and fintech.
Final Reflections: A global perspective on Saudi Arabia’s ambitions
Participants in SuperReturn Saudi Arabia 2025 reflected on the insights gained and their wider impact on global markets as the curtain came to a close. A senior executive from a major investment firm stated that” Saudi Arabia’s private capital ecosystem is maturing rapidly. The Kingdom has successfully created a climate in which foreign investors are open to competition and who can co-invest in deals and co-invest with family offices and venture capitalists. Those who have been in the Kingdom for the past 20 years, building relationships, connections and trust, see real real long-term potential” . ,
Strong government support has also made a difference, he added,” The commitment to regulatory transparency, co-investment opportunities, and emerging sectors like circular renewable energy, AI, manufacturing and gaming makes it an attractive destination”.
Looking beyond the Kingdom, the event also sparked discussions on what other nations, including Malaysia, could learn from Saudi Arabia’s transformation. Malaysia can take inspiration from Saudi Arabia’s approach to investment reform because it needs more private equity firms. By aligning policies with long-term investments— such as food security, desalination, hydrogen economy, healthtech, and gaming — Malaysia can attract Saudi’s family offices and scale its own startups to regional, MENA and international markets”, a Norwegian consultant shared.
SuperReturn Saudi Arabia 2025 was more than just a conference; it was also a gathering of the best global PE firms where GPs met LPs to network, exchange ideas, and network with local Saudi pension fund managers and chief investment officers ( CIOs ) from the richest Saudi Family Offices. Countries that want to grow their private markets and become potential future investment hubs could benefit from the Kingdom.
At DNA, Muhammad Adrian Wong serves as a contributing editor.