Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index ended the session on a positive note ahead of the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, with the benchmark TASI gaining 59.63 points, or 0.55 percent, to close at 10,946.26. The session was characterised by broad-based buying activity across most sectors, with Tadawul set to suspend trading in observance of the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr 1447H festivities.
Broad Market Gains Reflect Pre-Holiday Optimism
Trading volumes for the session reached 255 million shares, with total value traded exceeding SAR 6.27 billion, a figure consistent with active pre-holiday positioning. The day’s strongest gainers were concentrated in real estate, cement, and industrial sectors. Al Majdiah led the index by rising 8.62 percent, followed by EMAAR EC with a gain of 8.28 percent, and Saudi Gas (GASCO), which surged 6.56 percent. The market’s total capitalisation stands at approximately SAR 3.12 trillion, reflecting the scale and depth of the Kingdom’s capital markets.
The market’s upward momentum comes against a backdrop of healthy corporate fundamentals. Recent earnings results from Saudi banks and industrial companies have largely exceeded analyst expectations, providing the market with a constructive earnings season heading into Ramadan’s final days. The TASI’s year-to-date gain of 4.34 percent reflects measured investor confidence in the Kingdom’s economic trajectory.
Eid Holiday Closure and Post-Holiday Outlook
Tadawul is expected to suspend trading during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday period, which may begin as early as Thursday, March 19, pending the official Shawwal crescent sighting. The Kingdom’s Supreme Court has officially called on Muslims across Saudi Arabia to sight the Shawwal moon on the evening of March 18, 2026, and the outcome will determine the formal start of the Eid celebration.
Historically, the post-Eid trading period on Tadawul has been characterised by resumed momentum, particularly in sectors linked to consumer spending and infrastructure. Analysts expect that the positive earnings trajectory, combined with ongoing progress on Vision 2030 projects, will continue to support market valuations into the second quarter of 2026.
Global Factors and FTSE Russell Changes
Investors are also monitoring global factors that could shape market direction following the Eid break. The US Federal Reserve is holding a monetary policy meeting on March 18, with its decision carrying implications for Saudi Arabia’s interest rate environment, given the Saudi riyal’s peg to the US dollar. Meanwhile, FTSE Russell is scheduled to implement further changes to its Saudi market constituents on March 25, an event that typically influences foreign institutional flows into the Tadawul.
The TASI has recorded an 84 percent gain since its post-COVID-19 low in March 2020, a milestone that speaks to the structural recovery of the Saudi capital market and the enduring appeal of the Kingdom’s investment environment. As Eid Al-Fitr approaches, the market closes this pre-holiday chapter on a confident note, underpinned by earnings strength, Vision 2030 momentum, and sustained international investor interest.
