On 1 February 2026, the Saudi Capital Market Authority implemented amendments to the Rules for Foreign Investment in Securities, opening the Kingdom’s capital market to all categories of foreign investors for direct investment in the local stock exchange, the Tadawul.
Is Saudi Arabia’s Legal System Still ‘Islamic’?
By Dominik Krell
Introduction
Over the last decade, the Saudi government has introduced foreign law on a large scale. In many areas, legislation borrowed from Europe and North America now dominates to the extent that Islamic law sometimes appears to
Saudi Arabia Cloud Compliance Part 1: Data Residency and Contractual Expectations
Saudi Arabia’s cloud and data protection framework is substantive, cross-sectoral, and still maturing, creating a dynamic environment for technology companies entering the region. The threshold challenge is not merely identifying the applicable rules but truly understanding how multiple overlapping frameworks
::Roundtable:: Modern Forensic Technology and the Evolution of Islamic Criminal Law in Saudi Arabia
By Dominik Krell
1. Introduction
It might be difficult for us to imagine how criminal offenses could be prosecuted without the technical possibilities we take for granted today. DNA and blood tests are relatively recent inventions, made possible by the
CMA Approves Instructions of Simplified Investment Funds
The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved the Instructions of Simplified Investment Funds, introducing a new regulatory framework designed to create highly flexible, lower‑cost investment vehicles. This represents a structural shift in how funds may be formed, managed, and operated
CMA Approves Robo‑Advisory Regulatory Framework
The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved amendments to the Capital Market Institutions Regulations, formally establishing the regulatory framework for robo‑advisory services in Saudi Arabia. This follows the successful pilot conducted within the CMA’s FinTech Lab and represents a shift
Join Us on 3/26 for a Foreign and Comparative Law Webinar: Role of Legislative Bodies in Arab League Member States: Comparative Overview
The following is a guest post by George Sadek, a senior foreign law specialist at the Law Library of Congress covering laws of Arabic-speaking countries and Islamic law. George has written numerous posts for In Custodia Legis, including the New
Saudi Arabia joins Saudi Arabia Joins Global Partnership on AI
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially joined the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), an initiative hosted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and originating from the G7, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.
SAMA introduces fees guide for financial institutions’ services
The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has introduced the new “Fees Guide for Financial Institutions’ Services”, set to replace the current Banking Tariff.This initiative reinforces SAMA’s commitment to customer protection, transparency, and financial inclusion. The new Guide aims to ensure