Saudi Arabia is making a bold push to tokenize assets across its trillion-dollar economy as part of a strategy to insulate national wealth from international economic disruptions. The kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, which oversees approximately $1 trillion in holdings, has made tokenization a core component of its 2026-2030 strategic plan, approved in April. This move is a key part of the broader Vision 2030 initiative aimed at economic diversification.
In January 2026, Open World introduced Saudi Arabia’s first licensed center dedicated to real-world asset tokenization, located in Al Khobar. The center focuses on converting energy infrastructure, real estate, and carbon credits into digital tokens, operating under local regulatory and data rules. Pilot programs are expected to launch by mid-2026. According to Open World, the effort directly supports Vision 2030’s goals of modernizing the financial system and reducing reliance on traditional energy exports.
The tokenization drive is backed by strong digital economy growth: Saudi Arabia’s digital sector hit SAR495 billion in 2025, accounting for 15% of GDP. The country also saw over 4,000 blockchain-related company registrations last year—a 51% increase from 2024—and now hosts roughly 3 million active crypto investors, with $48 billion in transactions recorded from July 2023 to June 2024.
Globally, tokenized assets are expanding quickly, with US Treasury tokens leading in market value but tokenized equities growing fastest. The Middle East is emerging as a hub for this trend, with Abu Dhabi’s KAIO recently raising $8 million from Tether to build on-chain fund infrastructure. In contrast, China has fully banned real-world asset tokenization, highlighting a stark divergence between Gulf states and other regions.
PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan emphasized the fund’s long-term perspective at a March 2026 event, stating that returns are measured in decades, not quarters, and reaffirming commitment to global investments. Saudi Arabia’s push to tokenize its vast asset base signals a deep—and patient—bet on blockchain technology.”