Saudi Chambers Chairman Links Security to Investment and Economic Growth

RIYADH — Security is the foundation of investment and economic growth, and Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive security system has strengthened the Kingdom’s attractiveness and competitiveness regionally and globally, Federation of Saudi Chambers Chairman Abdullah Saleh Kamel said.

Speaking at the Security and History Dialogue 2026 conference in Riyadh, Kamel said the close relationship between security and investment was reflected in bringing security officials and investors together at the same event.

He thanked Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif for patronizing the second edition of the conference and praised the Ministry of Interior and organizers for their role in safeguarding the Kingdom’s security and stability.

“Saudi Arabia is a safe country and ranked first among G20 countries in the index measuring the feeling of safety when walking alone at night,” Kamel said.

He stressed that security is the foundation of investment, while investment is a foundation for growth, arguing that countries can possess significant wealth and competitive advantages but risk losing their economic potential in the absence of security.

Kamel said security in Saudi Arabia extends beyond major cities to regions across the Kingdom, providing businesses and investors with a stable environment in which to operate and expand.

He noted that the concept of security has also broadened beyond protecting individuals and combating crime to encompass food security, energy and supply security, and cybersecurity, all of which increasingly influence investment decisions.

Saudi Arabia has made significant progress in cybersecurity and is now among the world’s five most advanced countries in the field, Kamel said, adding that this strengthens confidence in the Kingdom’s investment environment and its ability to protect businesses, facilities and supply chains.

He highlighted the Ministry of Interior’s role in securing people, commercial activity and supply chains within cities and across borders, describing this as a key pillar supporting the private sector.

Security, he said, directly contributes to reducing costs, ensuring business continuity and attracting investment.

When an investor establishes a factory or project in Riyadh, Jeddah or elsewhere in the Kingdom, Kamel said, the business depends on efficient transportation networks, secure roads and reliable supply chains.

The integration of these elements has enabled investors to expand their operations and capitalize on the competitive advantages offered by different regions of the Kingdom, he added.

Kamel said Saudi Arabia’s current security and stability are rooted in a historical journey that began with the unification of the country by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, which brought greater security to roads and facilitated the movement of citizens and pilgrims traveling to the holy sites.

He also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s management and security of millions of pilgrims as an advanced model of security and organization, demonstrating the Kingdom’s ability to provide a safe and stable environment for Muslims arriving from around the world.

Kamel concluded that security remains one of Saudi Arabia’s most important sources of strength, stability and investment attractiveness, as well as a fundamental pillar of development, economic growth and the Kingdom’s service to pilgrims.