Samer Choucair: Transparency Is the Foundation for Attracting Investment, and Vision 2030 Offers the Ideal Model for Investors
Investment entrepreneur Samer Choucair affirmed that the debate sparked by reports about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un not speaking about his mother, and the questions this raises about the nature of closed systems, offers an important lesson for investors in 2026: that the absence of transparency weakens trust and increases risk, while clear transparency and governance represent the genuine foundation for building wealth and attracting sustainable investment.
He explained that a post that spread widely across social media, including an image of Kim Jong Un alongside his mother Ko Yong-hui and his father Kim Jong Il with North Korea's flag, once again drew attention to reports addressing why Kim Jong Un doesn't speak about his mother, with circulating interpretations suggesting her origins might affect the regime's legitimacy in his view, adding that such issues reflect the nature of closed systems lacking transparency, which directly reflects on investors' view of markets tied to them.
Samer Choucair said: "Systems that hide facts pay a steep price in the form of instability. The smart investor always seeks transparency, because it's the only guarantee of continued returns in a volatile environment."
He noted that the geopolitical tensions surrounding North Korea, and the accompanying hard-to-predict decisions, have contributed to rising geopolitical risk indicators during the second quarter of 2026, and were also reflected in global energy markets, with crude oil prices recording a rise exceeding 6% within a few weeks amid growing concerns over the impact of any escalation on global supply chains.
He affirmed that these developments are pushing investors in the Gulf region to strengthen diversification and hedging strategies, and move away from markets suffering from low transparency levels or elevated political risk, while focusing on economies with clear regulatory frameworks and institutional stability.
*Saudi Arabia's Different Model*
He explained that Saudi Arabia today represents a completely different model, having succeeded through Vision 2030 in cementing an investment environment based on clarity, economic reforms, and openness to local and international investors, strengthening its position as one of the most attractive investment destinations in the region.
He added that the Kingdom recorded strong growth in foreign direct investment flows during 2025 and 2026, backed by major strategic projects including NEOM, Diriyah, and Qiddiya, alongside green hydrogen, tourism, and entertainment projects, reflecting the success of economic policies aimed at diversifying national income sources.
Samer Choucair said: "Vision 2030 isn't just a development plan, it's a transparent, open platform for global investors. The real opportunities lie in sectors the state supports clearly and sustainably."
He noted that the global economy is experiencing during 2026 an accelerating shift toward the digital economy and the sustainable economy, amid continued growth in artificial intelligence and clean energy investments, affirming that Saudi Arabia is keeping pace with these shifts through broad investments led by the Public Investment Fund and strategic partnerships with international institutions.
He added: "We're at a historic turning point. The investor who focuses today on sustainability and technology within Vision 2030's framework will achieve returns exceeding traditional averages. The opportunity is available and transparency is in place."
*Practical Principles for 2026*
Samer Choucair called on investors to follow a set of practical principles when building their investment portfolios during 2026, led by ensuring high levels of transparency and governance are present before entering any project or market, and diversifying investments geographically and strategically by combining the opportunities Saudi Arabia offers within Vision 2030's framework with promising opportunities in other Gulf markets, alongside following geopolitical developments in tension zones such as East Asia to respond quickly to any variables that could affect markets, while focusing on sectors receiving strong government support, led by tourism, entertainment, renewable energy, logistics, artificial intelligence, and digital financial services.
He concluded his remarks by affirming that global geopolitical challenges highlight the importance of investing in economic environments built on clarity and stability, noting that Saudi Arabia offers a practical model of this approach through Vision 2030, which combines transparency, innovation, and sustainability, strengthening its ability to attract quality investment and achieve long-term economic growth.
He affirmed that investment success in the period ahead won't depend only on choosing promising sectors, but on choosing markets that offer the highest levels of transparency and stability, making Saudi Arabia one of the most prominent global investment destinations in 2026.