Trade is growing, but volumes remain modest. In January–May 2026, trade between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia reached $7 million, up 23% year on year, DKNews.kz reports.
Ways to accelerate bilateral trade were discussed by Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Madiyar Menilbekov, and Emad Al-Fakhri, First Vice Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The talks focused on promoting Kazakh exports, expanding the presence of Saudi businesses in Kazakhstan and strengthening direct contacts between companies from the two countries.
Kazakhstan seeks stronger access to the Saudi market
One of the key priorities is to increase the presence of Kazakh products in Saudi Arabia.
The two sides discussed mechanisms for promoting Kazakhstan-made goods while also encouraging greater participation by Saudi companies in the Kazakh market.
The upward trend is already visible in the figures. According to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, bilateral trade reached $7 million in the first five months of 2026, 23% more than in the same period last year.
The absolute volume, however, remains relatively small. In 2025, trade between the two countries totaled $11.7 million, up 17%. In January–April 2026, the figure had already exceeded $6.1 million.
33 Saudi-backed legal entities are registered in Kazakhstan
The second part of the talks focused on the presence of businesses in each other’s markets.
As of August 1, 2026, Kazakhstan had 33 legal entities with Saudi capital participation.
The next task is to move beyond the number of registered companies and increase direct business contacts capable of leading to concrete deals.
To support this, the two sides discussed organizing trade missions and joint business events. This format has already been used in bilateral economic engagement.
Kazakhstan-Saudi Business Council to play a bigger role
Menilbekov and Al-Fakhri also focused on the potential of the Kazakhstan-Saudi Arabia Business Council.
The two sides want to use the council as a regular platform for dialogue between business communities. This would allow companies to maintain direct contacts and systematically discuss new initiatives and potential projects.
In January 2026 in Riyadh, Madiyar Menilbekov and Business Council Co-Chair Ahmed Al-Dakhil also discussed ways to intensify the council’s work. At the time, the agenda included joint events and reciprocal visits by business delegations.
The latest meeting shows that this approach remains a priority.
Trade growth is part of a broader investment agenda
Economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia in 2026 goes beyond merchandise trade.
In June, the two sides discussed industrial cooperation, mining and metallurgy, critical minerals and infrastructure. It was also previously reported that Saudi direct investment in Kazakhstan had reached $115.3 million over the past 20 years.
Against that backdrop, the current objective is more specific: increase Kazakh exports and expand direct business-to-business contacts.
Following the meeting, Madiyar Menilbekov and Emad Al-Fakhri agreed to continue joint work on expanding bilateral trade, developing business ties and implementing new initiatives.
DKNews.kz previously reported on how Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia are expanding industrial cooperation and exploring new investment opportunities. At the time, mining and metallurgy, critical minerals and investment projects were among the main areas under discussion.
The next benchmark will be whether the 23% growth in trade can translate into a larger and more sustainable bilateral trade relationship.
