US Companies Eye Saudi Trade Barrier Relief
Operators with Saudi trade or investment plans can track which structural barriers the council prioritizes next.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Public Companies
The US-Saudi Business Council held a board meeting in Riyadh to review priorities for expanding bilateral trade, attracting investment, and strengthening commercial cooperation between the two countries. The council is working to identify and address structural barriers to trade and investment that affect businesses on both sides.
Why it matters
Companies planning cross-border trade or investment between the United States and Saudi Arabia are watching for policy direction from the council's board, which includes executives from major banks, energy firms, and technology companies. The council's focus on structural barriers signals where regulatory friction may ease for operators working across the two markets.
The US-Saudi Business Council was established in 1993 through a Saudi royal decree and US executive action. Its board spans executives from energy, banking, technology, and defense companies, but the readout did not disclose trade volumes or investment targets.
The players
US-Saudi Business Council
A bilateral public-private body founded in 1993 that works to expand trade and investment between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
BlackRock
A global asset manager whose chairman and CEO Larry Fink sits on the council's board.
Saudi Aramco
The state-owned oil and gas company of Saudi Arabia, represented on the council board by CEO Amin Nasser.
ExxonMobil
A large US integrated oil and gas company, represented on the council board by CEO Darren Woods.
The details
The board reviewed priorities for expanding bilateral trade and attracting investment, with the council's work program centered on identifying structural barriers that slow commercial activity. The council works with government bodies and private-sector institutions on both sides to develop practical recommendations. Joint chairs Lubna bint Suliman Olayan and Jane Fraser led the session, which was attended by Saudi ministers of energy, industry, and investment.
Timeline
1993: The US-Saudi Business Council is established through a Saudi royal decree and US executive action.
November 8, 2026: The board meeting is reported from Riyadh.
Market Landscape
The council's board reflects a pattern of large US energy, finance, and technology firms maintaining formal channels into Saudi economic policymaking. The forthcoming second edition of the National Investment Strategy will focus on turning announced opportunities into completed investments.
Operators with export or investment plans involving Saudi Arabia should track any follow-up work program the council publishes on specific barriers. Companies considering Saudi partnerships should consult qualified counsel on how any future regulatory changes would apply to their structures.
The takeaway
The council's emphasis on structural barriers rather than headline deals suggests progress will be measured in regulatory changes that operators can see in their own filings. Businesses should watch for the National Investment Strategy's second edition and the council's next published work program.
What happens next
The second edition of Saudi Arabia's National Investment Strategy is forthcoming, with its date not yet specified in the source.
Further reading
For more on how major listed firms engage with government-backed trade bodies, see the Public Companies section.
