Saudi Arabian Business Leaders Set Sights on Strategic Investment Hub in Cambodia

• 14 January 2026
• Local News
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The economic partnership between Cambodia and Saudi Arabia is entering a transformative phase following high level diplomatic discussions and a series of landmark investment commitments for 2026. During a significant meeting on January 8, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn received a farewell visit from the outgoing Saudi Arabian Ambassador, Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy. A central outcome of this diplomatic mission is the formalization of plans for a major Saudi business delegation to visit Cambodia later this year to explore concrete investment opportunities across four critical sectors: energy, agriculture, food security, and potential infrastructure developments.

This visit, organized through the Saudi Arabian Chamber of Commerce, represents a strategic move to translate long standing political ties into tangible economic results. The interest from Riyadh aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to establish the Kingdom as a global leader in food security and renewable energy. By investing in Cambodia’s vast agricultural landscape and emerging energy market, Saudi business leaders aim to diversify their international portfolios while supporting Cambodia’s goal of becoming an upper middle income country.

In a move that signals a permanent and deepening commitment to the region, Ambassador Dahlwy reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s intention to establish a resident embassy in Phnom Penh in the near future. The opening of a physical embassy is expected to streamline bilateral trade, which already grew by nearly 40 percent in recent years, reaching approximately 26 million dollars annually. Currently, Cambodia exports significant quantities of rice, clothing, and footwear to Saudi Arabia, while importing essential materials such as plastic products, aluminum, and chemical fertilizers.

The strengthening of these ties follows pivotal high level exchanges, including a visit by Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen to Saudi Arabia in December 2024 and a reciprocal visit by the Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council to Cambodia in July 2025. To further enhance economic and social integration, both nations are also exploring the possibility of establishing direct flights between Phnom Penh and Riyadh, which would bolster tourism and simplify travel for the business communities of both countries.

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