Sahm App, a Capital Market Authority-regulated trading platform based in Saudi Arabia, has announced the launch of its Saudi stock investment services for retail investors worldwide. The move makes Sahm one of the first platforms to fully support the onboarding of international investors following the CMA’s landmark decision to open the Saudi capital market to all categories of foreign investors, a policy that came into effect on February 1, 2026.
A New Gateway to the Saudi Market
The platform enables eligible investors from around the world to directly access securities listed on the Saudi Exchange. Through Sahm, international users can invest in a range of products including listed equities, exchange-traded funds, and real estate investment trusts. The expanded access is designed to help global investors diversify their portfolios by gaining exposure to one of the largest and most liquid capital markets in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The CMA’s announcement on January 6, 2026, represented a significant step in the Kingdom’s ongoing effort to attract foreign capital and deepen the integration of the Saudi financial ecosystem with global markets. Until that point, direct access to the Saudi stock market for foreign retail investors had been subject to strict qualification thresholds. The new framework removes many of those barriers, enabling a much broader pool of international investors to participate.
Zero-Commission Model
To further lower the barriers to entry, Sahm has introduced a lifetime zero-brokerage commission model for trading Saudi equities. This means that investors using the platform will not incur any brokerage fees on their stock transactions, a move that positions the app competitively in a market where fintech platforms are increasingly competing on cost transparency and user experience.
Mohammed Asiri, the Chief Financial Officer of Sahm, described the Saudi market as one of the most structurally diverse and dynamic in the region. He noted that the platform’s role is to make cross-border access secure, professional, and affordable for everyday investors, combining regulated infrastructure with modern digital tools to serve a global client base.
Saudi Capital Market Growth
The Saudi Exchange, known as Tadawul, is the largest stock market in the Gulf region by market capitalisation. The index has grown significantly in recent years, driven by a wave of initial public offerings, a deepening of sectoral representation, and the broader economic diversification agenda set out under Vision 2030. Key listings across technology, healthcare, retail, and financial services have expanded the range of investment opportunities available on the exchange.
The opening of the market to global retail investors is expected to bring additional liquidity and trading depth, while also raising the international profile of the Saudi financial sector. For the Kingdom, attracting foreign investment into its listed companies supports the long-term goal of building a vibrant, globally connected capital market that serves both domestic and international participants.
