Al‑Masoud: Legislative Transformation Strengthens Investment Appeal and Positions Law as a Partner in Decision‑Making
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — October 11, 2026 Legal advisor Yasser bin Abdulaziz Al‑Masoud, Business Law Advisor to leaders and Founder of Taqadi International, hosted a media roundtable at his residence in Riyadh on Saturday, bringing together specialists and representatives of various media outlets. The discussion focused on the growing role of business law in economic and investment decision‑making, risk anticipation, and business sustainability amid the Kingdom’s ongoing economic and legislative transformation under Saudi Vision 2030.
The dialogue explored the evolution of Saudi Arabia’s business and investment environment, the Kingdom’s rising attractiveness to local and foreign investors, and the role of the legislative ecosystem in strengthening trust, protecting rights, and enhancing investor certainty. Participants also discussed governance and family business sustainability, arbitration and mediation, and the future of the legal sector in light of technological advancements and artificial intelligence.
Al‑Masoud emphasized that the Kingdom’s rapid economic and investment shifts increase the need for a legal practice that is closely connected to decision‑making—one that moves from resolving disputes after they occur to anticipating risks before they escalate into crises.
“In the business environment, law is not merely a tool for protection after a problem occurs; it is a foundation for trust, decision quality, and business sustainability,” Al‑Masoud said. He noted that investment decisions are inherently tied to ownership structures, partnerships, governance, compliance, contracts, exit mechanisms, and dispute resolution—making early legal insight an essential part of decision quality.
Al‑Masoud highlighted the Kingdom’s accelerated economic and legislative transformation under Vision 2030, referencing the recent annual Royal Speech delivered by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince before the Shura Council, which confirmed that Vision programs and strategies have achieved 93% of their targets, while the private sector’s contribution to the economy has risen to 51%.
He added that this transformation coincides with remarkable growth in Saudi Arabia’s investment appeal. Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows increased from SAR 28.1 billion in 2017 to SAR 119.2 billion in 2024, more than quadrupling. Meanwhile, the total stock of FDI rose from SAR 501.8 billion to SAR 977.3 billion, surpassing the SAR 1 trillion milestone. Al‑Masoud stressed that foreign investors seek not only opportunity and returns, but also a clear, predictable legal environment that protects rights and builds confidence throughout the investment cycle.
“Competition for capital is not driven by incentives alone; it is driven by a country’s ability to build a legal environment that gives investors confidence before asking for their capital,” he said. “Saudi Arabia today stands as a global model in enhancing investment attractiveness and attracting high‑quality capital, as reflected in the clarity of its legislation, stability of its regulatory environment, protection of rights, and rising levels of trust in the Saudi market.”
On family businesses, Al‑Masoud underscored that sustaining commercial legacy requires structured ownership, defined authorities, succession planning, and governance. He noted that data from the National Center for Family Enterprises shows that only 41% of family businesses have a generational succession plan, while 58% of owners are above 55 years old, highlighting the importance of early preparation for ownership and leadership transition. He stressed that “good intentions do not replace good organization, and documentation does not contradict trust—it protects it.”
Al‑Masoud also pointed to the importance of arbitration and mediation in managing complex disputes, and noted that technology and artificial intelligence will reshape many legal functions, making the advisor’s deeper value lie in understanding business dynamics, reading risks, and linking law to executive decision‑making.
He concluded by emphasizing that the next phase requires stronger integration between law, economy, and investment, ensuring that law becomes a tool for enabling business growth and that legal advisors serve as partners in decision‑making rather than merely dispute resolvers.