Saudi Arabia’s mergers and acquisitions market is picking up pace in 2026, with regulatory filings and billion-riyal transactions spanning healthcare, energy, financial services and sports.
The General Authority for Competition received 112 economic concentration applications in the second quarter, up 29% from 87 a year earlier. It issued 76 no-objection decisions, while the applications under review represented a combined value of about SAR 373.84B. The figure covers transactions submitted for review, not necessarily completed deals.
Acquisitions accounted for 89% of filings, followed by joint ventures at 8% and mergers at 3%. Foreign entities were involved in 75% of applications, compared with 25% for local companies. Manufacturing led activity by sector with 34% of filings, followed by information and communications at 12%.
Regulatory activity continued through the summer, with 58 decisions issued in July and August, up from 47 during the same months in 2025.
Notable transactions included Fakeeh Care Group’s SAR 1.596B acquisition of Dr. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Faqih and Partners, ADES Holding’s SAR 1.07B purchase of Saipem Saudi Arabia, and a SAR 1.43B deal under which Amex Middle East acquired the Saudi Investment Bank’s 50% stake in American Express Saudi Arabia. Kingdom Holding also completed its acquisition of 70% of Al Hilal Club Company for SAR 840M.
Source: Jawlah
