Samer Choucair: Central Banks” Plans to Reduce Dollar Holdings Open Promising Investment Opportunities in Saudi Arabia
Samer Choucair, investment entrepreneur, said that the accelerating changes underway in the global financial system are compelling investors to revisit their investment strategies, noting that the growing trend among central banks worldwide toward reducing their US dollar holdings represents a historic shift that could open new investment opportunities, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.
He explained that the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) survey issued in June 2026 revealed for the first time that more central banks plan to reduce their US dollar holdings over the coming decade compared to those intending to increase them, reflecting a clear shift in the global outlook toward the American currency.
He added that circulating images of bundles of hundred-dollar bills, accompanying specialized economic reports published on platforms such as Al-Sharq Bloomberg, have come to express growing concerns tied to dollar dominance, amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising US debt levels.
He noted that IMF COFER data showed the dollar's share of global foreign reserves declining to 56.3% during the second quarter of 2025, the lowest level recorded in more than a quarter century, at a time when central banks, particularly in emerging markets, continued increasing their gold purchases at a record pace, with expectations of the ounce price reaching roughly 4,000 dollars by mid-2026.
*Geopolitical Shifts Redraw the Global Investment Map*
Choucair affirmed that geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, have become among the most prominent factors pushing nations to diversify their reserves and reduce reliance on the dollar.
He added that the Invesco 2026 survey showed 61% of central banks believe the continuous rise in US debt weakens the dollar's standing as a global reserve currency, strengthening the trend toward seeking more stable alternatives.
He explained that these variables create uncertainty in global markets, but simultaneously offer strategic opportunities for investors focused on real assets and investments tied to the real economy.
*Vision 2030 Makes Saudi Arabia More Attractive for Investment*
Choucair noted that Saudi Arabia has come to occupy a strong position to benefit from these shifts, thanks to the economic reforms it's implementing under Vision 2030, which have strengthened the non-oil economy's position and contributed to diversifying growth sources.
He explained that the non-oil economy achieved growth of roughly 4.5% in recent years, backed by expansion in tourism, mining, the digital economy, and logistics services sectors.
He added that Public Investment Fund assets surpassed 925 billion dollars during 2025, alongside the continued giga projects, such as NEOM, Diriyah, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea, attracting local and foreign investment, making the Saudi market more attractive amid relatively declining confidence in the dollar.
*Samer Choucair: Diversification Has Become a Strategic Necessity in 2026*
Choucair affirmed that the current stage requires reformulating investment portfolios to suit the shifts underway in the global financial system, noting that excessive reliance on the dollar has come to represent a higher risk level compared to previous years.
He added that Gulf investors should direct greater attention toward real assets and regional investments enjoying strong economic foundations, given the greater ability they provide for preserving value and achieving sustainable returns.
He explained that Vision 2030 doesn't just represent a development program, but a historic investment opportunity, as tourism, mining, technology, and processing industries sectors offer growth opportunities backed by deep structural reforms, at a time when gold stands out as one of the most important hedging tools against geopolitical and monetary volatility.
*Regional Markets Open New Opportunities for Investors*
Choucair noted that Islamic sukuk and Saudi stocks tied to giga projects represent strong investment options in the period ahead, alongside what Gulf cooperation in developing capital markets offers in terms of opportunities to strengthen regional financial independence and reduce exposure to foreign currency volatility.
He added that diversifying investment portfolios is no longer limited to distributing assets between stocks and bonds, but has come to encompass geographic and sectoral diversification and benefiting from rising Gulf and Asian markets.
*Practical Steps to Benefit From Global Shifts*
Choucair affirmed that investors can benefit from these variables by increasing exposure to gold, whether through exchange-traded funds or direct investment, as one of the most important hedging tools in the current stage.
He added that focusing on the Saudi market, particularly companies benefiting from Vision 2030 in tourism, entertainment, mining, and technology sectors, represents a promising opportunity for achieving long-term growth.
Choucair called for diversifying investment portfolios through sukuk and real assets to reduce dollar reliance, alongside studying investment opportunities in Gulf markets and rising Asian markets.
*Diversification-Based Investment Is Most Capable of Achieving Growth*
He concluded his remarks by affirming that investors who recognize geopolitical and monetary variables and adopt considered diversification strategies will be best positioned to achieve sustainable returns in the period ahead.
He added that Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, possesses all the fundamentals qualifying it to benefit from the shifts underway in the global financial system, affirming that the opportunity has become available to Saudi and Gulf investors to turn international challenges into long-term strategic gains through investing in promising sectors and building more diverse, stable portfolios.