Canada-Saudi Arabia relations
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Bilateral relations
Canada and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have enjoyed positive relations for over 50 years, grounded in shared interests in achieving economic growth, diversifying their economies, enhancing regional and international security, and establishing the foundations for global peace. As the only G20 member from the Arab world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a valued security and economic partner for Canada and its allies.
The Canada-Saudi Arabia relationship has gained significant momentum since 2025, with senior level engagements that have included visits to Riyadh by Canadian senior officials. This includes visits by Canadian Minister of International Trade, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in January 2026, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation in February 2026, and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs in March 2026. These visits resulted in deepening bilateral ties and contributed to strengthening the comprehensive partnership between the two countries.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays a leading role in the Arab and Muslim worlds through its leadership in the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) headquartered in Jeddah, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) headquartered in Riyadh. Globally, the Kingdom holds unique significance as the Guardian of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina, the religious home for 1.6 billion Muslims. Each year, thousands of Canadians join millions of Muslims in performing the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Economically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest crude oil exporter and holds approximately 17% of global reserves, giving it significant influence through OPEC and OPEC+. Canada values its strong bilateral relationship, reinforced by high-level engagements, including visits and calls at the head of government and ministerial levels. As G7 chair in 2025, Canada engaged the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in multilateral discussions, highlighted by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s November 2025 visit to Canada, which underscored joint efforts on energy security, global stability, and deeper bilateral cooperation.
Canada is represented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by its Embassy in Riyadh and an Honorary Consul in Jeddah. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is represented in Canada by an Embassy in Ottawa. Canadian companies and institutions in the Kingdom form a dynamic expatriate community that advances mutual interests. Conversely, in 2021, 9,560 Saudi Arabians called Canada home.
Trade relations
Trade and investment remain central to Canada’s relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2025, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was Canada’s second largest two-way trading partner in the Gulf Cooperation Council, with merchandise trade totalling approximately $3.5 billion. This included $1.3 billion in Canadian exports and $2.2 billion in imports. Top Canadian exports include motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, and scientific and precision instruments. Energy products accounted for over 92% of Canadian imports from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Canadian companies are well positioned to expand in sectors aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, including agriculture, infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI), advanced technology, life sciences, education and mining. Approximately 150 Canadian firms already maintain a long-term presence in the Kingdom, many with regional offices.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund (SWF), valued at an estimated over $1 trillion, is a key driver of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy away from oil and gas. Vision 2030 also includes Giga Projects such as smart cities, real estate developments, luxury and eco-tourism, and logistics hubs. This Vision and its projects create opportunities for Canadian companies in mining, AI, cleantech, agriculture, tourism, and infrastructure.
In January 2026, the Canadian Minister of International Trade concluded a visit to Saudi Arabia to promote Canadian trade and investment opportunities alongside a Canadian senior-level business delegation. Companies in the clean technology and energy, information and communication technology, AI, and infrastructure sectors were part of the visit, expanding opportunities for Canadian businesses in Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing market.
In December 2025, the bilateral Air Transport Agreement (ATA) was expanded to permit more direct commercial air services between the two countries. This expanded ATA allows for up to 14 passenger flights per week per country and unlimited all-cargo flights, in support of deeper people-to-people and commercial ties.
In November 2025, Canada hosted His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to advance economic cooperation. Both countries agreed to launch negotiations toward a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), establishing a transparent framework for the promotion and protection of investments, and to reactivate the Joint Economic Commission (JEC), a treaty-based mechanism to promote trade and investment initiatives of mutual benefit.
Canadian companies are supported by:
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Partnerships and organizations
To develop effective responses to today’s most pressing global challenges, Canada and Saudi Arabia work closely in multilateral fora, such as:
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