Business

Overview

Investment, trade, and other commercial activities form a vital pillar of the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To deepen our economic and commercial ties, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran are committed to supporting U.S. companies doing business with the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia has a growing and increasingly diverse economy that presents rich opportunities for U.S. firms in a wide variety of sectors, from energy to health care. In this section, you’ll find a short description of Saudi Arabia as an export and investment destination and suggested sources for additional information and research.

Contact Us

U.S. Foreign Commercial Service, Saudi Arabia
Counselor for Commercial Affairs: Andrew Billard

U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service, Riyadh
Agricultural Attaché: Chris Frederick
Phone: +966 (11) 488-3800 – ext. 4351
Fax: 966 (11) 482-4364
E-Mail: Agriyadh@usda.gov
Website: www.fas.usda.gov

U.S. Economic Section, Saudi Arabia
Counselor for Economic Affairs: Amy Archibald

Doing Business in Saudi Arabia

Getting Started Getting Started with U.S. Commercial Service Getting Started with the Department of Agriculture Saudia Arabia Commercial Guide Investment Climate Statement Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

Getting Started

With a GDP of $754 billion in 2014 (World Bank, current estimated prices), Saudi Arabia remains the largest economy in the Middle East and the region’s only member of the G-20 group of major economies. The Kingdom also boasts a relatively high GDP per capita—$24,406 in 2014—and one of the region’s largest markets, with a population of approximately 30 million. The Kingdom’s real GDP grew by 3.35 percent in 2015, though a sustained period of low global oil prices since mid-2014 has negatively affected Saudi Arabia’s economy, prompting the government to draw down on its vast foreign currency reserves, pursue austerity measures, and explore privatizing major state-owned enterprises.

View Overview Information

Getting Started with U.S. Commercial Service

The U.S. Commercial Service (CS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, offers companies a full range of expertise in international trade. Companies can find assistance locally in more than 100 U.S. Commercial Service offices nationwide and in more than 70 international offices.

Read More About U.S. Commercial Service

Getting Started with the Department of Agriculture

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) links U.S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities and global food security. In addition to its Washington, D.C. staff, FAS has a global network of 98 offices covering 177 countries. These offices are staffed by agricultural attachés and locally hired agricultural experts who are the eyes, ears, and voice for U.S. agriculture around the world. FAS staff identify problems, provide practical solutions, and work to advance opportunities for U.S. agriculture and support U.S. foreign policy around the globe.

Learn more about USDA

Saudia Arabia Commercial Guide

These reports on market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business customs prepared at U.S. Embassies worldwide by the Department of Commerce Department, Department of State, and other U.S. agencies’ professionals.

Read The Commercial Guide For Saudia Arabia

Investment Climate Statement

The U.S. Department of State’s Investment Climate Statements provide country-specific information on the business climates of more than 170 countries and economies. They are prepared by economic officers stationed in embassies and posts around the world and analyze a variety of economies that are or could be markets for U.S. businesses of all sizes.

Read the Statement for Saudia Arabia

Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)

In 1985, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a joint venture between the Department of State and the U.S. private sector, created by then Secretary of State George P. Shultz under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to interact on overseas security problems of mutual concern. Objectives of this joint venture are: to establish a continuing liaison between security officials in both the private and public sector; to provide for regular exchanges of information concerning developments in the overseas security environment; recommend methods for planning and implementation of security programs abroad; and recommend methods to mitigate risks to American private sector interests worldwide. These objectives remain in the current OSAC Charter.

Doing Business in the U.S.

Getting Started

Since its inception, SelectUSA has facilitated more than $78 billion in investment, creating and/or retaining over 95,000 U.S. jobs. In fiscal year 2019 alone, SelectUSA facilitated more than $18.5 billion in investment. We work with the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and entities across government to facilitate job-creating business investment into the United States and raise awareness of the critical role that economic development plays in the U.S. economy.

Learn More about SelectUSA