Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved its opening to holders of a bachelor’s degree in a number of specialties related to the field of securities, allowing them to qualify as eligible investors in the Parallel Market (Nomu).
This move comes as part of a broader set of amendments and facilitations that introduce new criteria and ease the requirements for investors to qualify as eligible participants in the Parallel Market. The decision aims to broaden Nomu’s investor base, enhance market liquidity, and positively support overall market activity.
Under the decision, which took effect immediately, individuals holding a bachelor’s degree in finance, investment, or accounting are now eligible to invest in the Parallel Market (Nomu). This expansion adds new investor categories to those already recognized as qualified investors, such as holders of master’s degrees in finance, accounting, or other securities-related fields, as well as professionals with certifications like the SOCPA fellowship or other previously approved qualifications.
As per the approved amendments, the eligibility criteria for individual investors seeking to enter and invest in the Nomu Parallel Market have been eased. An investor now must have executed trades with a total value of $5,332,560 (SAR 20,000,000) over the past 12 months, the former requirement was at least 10 quarterly trades totaling $10,665,120 (SAR 40,000,000) over the same period.
The amendment removes the requirement for a minimum number of quarterly trades, replacing it with a simpler, aggregate annual-volume threshold, and updates the definition of ‘qualified investor in the Parallel Market’ to explicitly refer to the investor categories now permitted under the revised framework.
The decision also permits anyone currently serving or who has previously served as a member of the board of directors or specialized committees derived from the board of directors of companies listed on the Parallel Market to invest in this market. On March 25, 2025, the CMA published the draft titled ‘The Draft to Develop the Categories of Investors in the Parallel Market’ on the Unified Electronic Platform for Public and Government Entity Consultations (Public Consultation Platform), connected to the National Competitiveness Center and the CMA’s website.
