SAUDI Arabia recorded 24 mergers and acquisitions deals worth $689 million in the first quarter of 2026, a 4 per cent annual increase in deal volume, according to Ansarada’s latest Middle East M&A Market Analysis report.
The figures point to continued resilience in the Kingdom’s dealmaking market despite regional geopolitical uncertainty, with Ansarada saying long-term investor confidence remains intact.
The M&A activity comes as Saudi Arabia seeks to expand private-sector participation and attract investment under Vision 2030.
Supported by the Public Investment Fund and ongoing economic reforms, the kingdom has remained a focal point for regional and international investors even as geopolitical tensions and higher financing costs have tempered dealmaking activity across some markets.
Across the Middle East, 196 announced deals were recorded in the first quarter of 2026 with a combined value of $23.3 billion, compared with 207 pacts worth $31.3bn in the same period last year.
“The conflict may be reshaping deal timelines, but it’s not reshaping the region’s thirst for ongoing M&A activity. We remain confident in the long-term health of deal activity in Saudi Arabia, which we view as an enduring and critical hub for M&A in the region and beyond,” said Justin Smith, managing director at Ansarada.
Smith said volatility had prompted more rigorous diligence but had not weakened the underlying drivers of dealmaking in the Kingdom. The outlook for Saudi Arabia’s M&A market remains cautiously constructive, with advisers pointing to a slower but more disciplined deal environment rather than a broad retreat from activity.
While regional uncertainty is expected to pressure business conditions in the short term, professional services firm Deloitte said Saudi Arabia is likely to be better positioned than some other GCC markets to withstand the impact.
Deloitte’s April 2026 Middle East Economic Monitor said the Public Investment Fund’s 2026–2030 strategy signals a shift from rapid expansion toward a greater focus on long-term value creation, spending discipline and resilience to external economic shocks.
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