Georgia and Saudi Arabia are preparing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch negotiations on a bilateral investment agreement, signaling a deepening of economic ties between the two countries.
The decision follows a visit by Deputy Minister of Economy Genadi Arveladze to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Deputy Minister of Investments Fari Al Garni. According to Arveladze, the sides agreed to formalize cooperation through the MoU, which will pave the way for a full-scale investment partnership.
Saudi investment in Georgia has been growing steadily. In the first half of 2025, foreign direct investment (FDI) from Saudi Arabia reached USD 4.18 million, up 72% compared to the same period in 2024. The second quarter alone saw inflows of USD 1.34 million.
Trade between the two countries remains modest but stable. From January to August 2025, bilateral trade totaled USD 10.7 million, slightly down from the previous year’s level. In 2024, trade turnover hit USD 38 million, the highest figure in at least a decade.
Georgia’s exports to Saudi Arabia during the first eight months of 2025 amounted to USD 7.7 million, while imports stood at USD 3.03 million. The top Georgian exports included live sheep and goats (USD 2.77 million), foundry binders (USD 1.86 million) and nuts (USD 1.6 million). Imports were dominated by polymers of propylene (USD 1.8 million) and ethylene (USD 0.63 million).
Tourism remains another link between the two nations. In the first half of 2025, 26,910 visits from Saudi Arabia were recorded, a decline of around 4,600 compared to the same period last year.
Officials in Tbilisi view the upcoming investment talks as a step toward attracting Gulf capital into Georgia’s infrastructure, logistics and tourism sectors, areas seen as necessary to strengthening economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East.
