Jakarta — June 2026
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, two of the world's trillion-dollar economies, have significant potential to deepen their commercial and investment ties, according to Pure International, a subsidiary of Pure Consulting.
To support this vision, Pure International conducted an investor outreach mission to Indonesia, aimed at strengthening strategic relationships, fostering business collaboration, and highlighting the vast opportunities emerging from Saudi Arabia's transformation under Vision 2030.
Committed to empowering clients to build bridges internationally, Pure International works to enhance international understanding of the Kingdom's economic transformation and evolving investment landscape. The visit showcased opportunities across a wide range of sectors and strengthened engagement with leading Indonesian companies and investors seeking to partner with Saudi Arabia and participate in its ongoing growth journey.
Khalid AlShakhshir, CEO of Pure Consulting, pointed to the two countries' deep-rooted links as a strong footing for a deeper commercial relationship. In an interview with CNN Indonesia, he said: “Saudi Arabia and Indonesia already have a strong relationship built on religion, culture, history, and people-to-people ties. What is changing today is that Saudi Arabia is becoming much more than a spiritual destination; it is becoming a diversified, fast-growing, and investment-driven economy.”
Indonesian success stories
The mission signals a growing recognition of the need for fast-growing global economies like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia to strengthen business-to-business ties for mutual benefit and cooperative growth. Opportunities for this kind of Indonesian and Saudi cooperation are not new. Indonesian companies like Indofood have been present in the Kingdom for decades and are well-known names among Saudis. Indomie itself has been produced in Jeddah since 1992 and distributed across the Middle East through a partnership with a Saudi firm. Indonesians have also been a key presence in the annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, with Indonesia one of the top 10 origin countries for pilgrims globally. Indonesian companies have already invested in the Kingdom's pilgrimage sector following Danantara's acquisition of the Novotel Makkah Thakher Hotel in 2025.
Key drivers of Saudi Arabia's investment growth
Saudi Arabia is growing beyond its traditional role as a pillar of the global energy economy. In 2025, non-oil sectors made up 55% of GDP, a total of USD 892 billion. The sector's healthy growth was supported through dynamic and proactive pro-business policies, including streamlining licensing, expanding e-government programs, allowing 100% foreign ownership across multiple sectors, and a young and dynamic population. In the CNN Indonesia interview, AlShakhshir said of this population that they “enjoy high purchase power, they are young…and they are digitally savvy. The digital infrastructure is there and well-established in the country.”
The country's geographic location also makes it a natural transport hub, positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This is further supported through the expansion of key infrastructure and industrial facilities, like the Kingdom's industrial zones of Ras Al Khair, Jubail Industrial City, and King Abdullah Economic City, which collectively support manufacturing, logistics, and hi-tech operations. Just as Indonesia serves as a gateway spanning the Indian and Pacific oceans, Saudi Arabia connects East and West, making both countries key trade corridors.
In addition, Saudi Arabia's ambitious calendar of global events is creating a strong and sustained demand pipeline across multiple sectors. Major international events including the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Expo 2030 Riyadh — expected to attract more than 42 million visits — and the FIFA World Cup 2034 are accelerating opportunities across hospitality, logistics, construction, technology, entertainment, and professional services.
Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is also experiencing rapid growth. The Kingdom welcomed 123 million visitors in 2025 and aims to increase this number to 150 million by 2030, with tourism spending reaching approximately USD 81 billion. International Umrah pilgrims exceeded 18 million visitors, further reinforcing Saudi Arabia's position as one of the world's leading religious and tourism destinations while creating sustained demand across tourism-related industries.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment has established a streamlined, investor-centric journey through a dedicated commission that simplifies and digitalizes the investment process. This framework provides clear, fast, and transparent steps, supported by robust digital onboarding and one-stop service centers to accelerate decision-making for global investors. To strengthen the Kingdom's competitive edge, the country offers attractive incentives and exemptions designed to entice foreign investment, while also serving neighboring regions to foster cross-border growth opportunities. Anas Al-Safi, Managing Partner at Pure Consulting, notes: “Saudi Arabia provides compelling incentives and tax exemptions that empower foreign investors to establish a lasting competitive advantage, with a generous framework that includes a potential 10-year window of no income tax under eligible conditions and exemptions from certain local labor rules, enhancing operational flexibility for qualifying investments.”
As a growth platform, Saudi Arabia has achieved significant progress over the past decade and is positioned to accelerate even further over the next five years. Vision 2030 is a journey, not a final destination, with Vision 2040 extending the trajectory beyond 2030. Saudi Arabia serves as a strategic hub connecting the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, unlocking regional and cross-border opportunities across the region.
Opportunity for Indonesian firms
These developments create meaningful opportunities in tourism and hospitality, manufacturing (including halal products), logistics, and the digital economy. Indonesian strengths in manufacturing, automotive components, halal industries, hospitality services, and digital talent align with Saudi goals to expand non-oil growth.
Indonesia has long and deep ties with the Kingdom across multiple spheres, including economy and culture, providing it a key advantage to promote engagement with the country. Khalid AlShakhshir said: “Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are not strangers to each other. The bridge already exists; the opportunity now is to expand it from people-to-people ties into business-to-business partnerships.” AlShakhshir added: “Saudi Arabia is open today — open to tourism, open to business — in a way that it has never been before.”
About Pure International
Pure International is a subsidiary of Pure Consulting, a Saudi-based consulting firm committed to empowering clients to build bridges internationally. Through deep local understanding, international insight, and strategic communications expertise, Pure International empowers international investors, businesses, and stakeholders to better understand the Kingdom's transformation under Vision 2030 and navigate opportunities across key sectors.
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