Saudi Arabia approves 100% foreign ownership rules e Saudi Arabia’s cabinet has approved rules governing foreign ownership of retail and wholesale businesses in the Kingdom. The regulations, which were first discussed last year, allow foreign investors to own 100% of retail and wholesale businesses in the country. Earlier, the ownership ceiling for foreigners was set at 75%. This initiative is aimed at attracting more regional and international brands to Saudi Arabia, creating more jobs, and boosting non-oil revenue. This has raised concerns regarding the sustainability of the business model of Saudi retailers. e Real estate is key to entering a market: unlike its peers, Al Hokair enjoys favourable access to prime locations in well-located shopping malls owned by its parent shareholder, Al Hokair Group. Fashion retailers such as Inditex continue to compete for good-quality real estate in shopping centres and on high streets. e — Jarir and Extra are more vulnerable to the entry of international retailers such as Apple as barriers of entry are very low for consumer electronics and appliances. Furthermore, the government emphasis on developing tourism and family entertainments (Six Flags, Sea World) represents a potential threat to Jarir and Extra’s business models which still play an ‘entertaining’ role in Saudi Arabia. e Such initiatives would result in (1) reducing the number of stores; (2) a rapid modernization of the sector; and, (3) a significant increase in labor productivity by adopting merchandising best practices. Rationale for liberalization The rationale for permitting FDI in retail trading is (1) attracting investments in production and marketing; (2) improving the availability of such goods for the consumer; (3) encouraging increased sourcing of goods from Saudi Arabia; and, (4) enhancing competitiveness of Saudi enterprises through access to global designs, technologies and management practices. Typically, global retailers follow a 100%-owners