Ninety One Appoints Dr. Khalid Alsweilem as Chairman of New Saudi Arabian Entity

Ninety One Appoints Dr. Khalid Alsweilem as Chairman of New Saudi Arabian Entity
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Ninety One Appoints Dr. Khalid Alsweilem as Chairman of New Saudi Arabian Entity

Ninety One Appoints Dr. Khalid Alsweilem as Chairman of New Saudi Arabian Entity

Ninety One has announced the appointment of Dr. Khalid Alsweilem to the position of Chief Global Sovereign Funds Advisor and Chairman of the firm's new Saudi Arabian entity, which is currently under formation and subject to approval from the Saudi Arabia Capital Market Authority.

"I am pleased to be taking on this role to help steer and develop Ninety One's business in Saudi Arabia and Middle East more broadly,” said Alsweilem said.

“This is a time of great transformation and opportunity for the region as Saudi Arabia implements its Vision 2030 program. As a global investment manager with expertise in emerging market equities, natural resources, Asia and Mainland China equities, energy transition and infrastructure debt, Ninety One is well positioned to capitalize on the major economic developments taking place throughout the region. Their roots in emerging markets give them a keen sensitivity to how investment capabilities should serve Saudi Arabia and the region's needs."

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ninety One Hendrik du Toit described Alsweilem as “the right person to help guide our growth in Saudi Arabia and the region, given his unique knowledge of the investment industry and environment.”

“Ninety One has had an active presence as an investor of international capital in the region for many years and is experienced in developing investment businesses with local relevance. The creation of a formal entity in Saudi Arabia is our next step in a productive journey to even greater engagement and service of clients."

Alsweilem is a world-renowned expert on sovereign wealth funds and their connection to the real economy. He is one of the longest-serving and most successful sovereign fund practitioners, having previously served as ChiefCounsellor and Director General of Investment at SAMA, the Central Bank of Saudi Arabia, where he held senior positions since 1991. He is a Visiting Scholar at the Stanford Centre of Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness and at the Stanford Long-Term Investing Initiative, as well as a non-resident scholar at MIT Golub Center for Finance and Policy.

Prior to that, he was a scholar at Stanford Global Projects Center and a fellow expert at Harvard Kennedy School, where he was the lead author on major sovereign funds research and publications. He is an engineer and holds a PhD in Economics and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard University.

Ninety One is an active, global investment manager listed in London and Johannesburg with more than $160 billion in assets under management (as at 31 March 2023). The firm's goal is to provide long-term investment returns for clients while making a positive difference to people and the planet.

Established in South Africa in 1991 as Investec Asset Management, the firm has since expanded to 21 offices in 14 countries across five continents, with 258 investment professionals. In 2020, the firm demerged from the Investec Group to become Ninety One.



Saudi Arabia Makes Significant Progress in 2025 International IP Index

The report highlighted a series of advancements in Saudi Arabia’s legislative and regulatory framework for intellectual property. (SPA)
The report highlighted a series of advancements in Saudi Arabia’s legislative and regulatory framework for intellectual property. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Makes Significant Progress in 2025 International IP Index

The report highlighted a series of advancements in Saudi Arabia’s legislative and regulatory framework for intellectual property. (SPA)
The report highlighted a series of advancements in Saudi Arabia’s legislative and regulatory framework for intellectual property. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia made significant progress in the 13th edition of the US Chamber of Commerce's International IP Index, recording a 17.55% increase in its overall score and ranking among the top countries for progress out of 55 global economies.

This milestone highlights the Kingdom's commitment to strengthening its intellectual property ecosystem and fostering innovation in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

The report highlighted a series of advancements in Saudi Arabia’s legislative and regulatory framework for intellectual property. Key developments included extending the term of design protection to 15 years, establishing a dedicated prosecution office for IP offenses, and strengthening the electronic enforcement of copyrights and trademarks.

These efforts contributed to raising the Kingdom’s overall score from 36.6% in 2019 to 53.7% in 2025—a cumulative increase of more than 40% over six years.

This progress reflects the efforts of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, in collaboration with relevant entities, to build an integrated system that enhances investor and innovator confidence.

It also reaffirms the Kingdom’s growing position as a regional hub for the creative and knowledge-based economy.