GAC approves 202 economic concentration applications in 2024

07/01/2025 Argaam
Logo ofThe General Authority for Competition (GAC)

Logo of The General Authority for Competition (GAC) 


The General Authority for Competition (GAC) announced its 2024 performance summary, revealing it received 318 applications for economic concentration.

 

The authority issued 202 no-objection certificates during 2024, a 17.4% increase year-on-year (YoY) and the highest on record. The third and fourth quarters accounted for the largest number of approvals, with 60 each, GAC said in a statement.

 

Applications from foreign institutions accounted for the majority, comprising 56% of total submissions in 2024, while joint ventures involving local entities made up 44.06%.

 

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Acquisitions dominated the applications, representing 81% of the total, followed by joint ventures (15%), mergers (2%), and agency additions in the auto sector (2%), the authority added.

 

Applications from Tadawul-listed companies represented 30.3% of the total, up from 27.7% in 2023.

 

Details of Economic Concentration Applications in 2024

Type of Application

2023

2024

Change

Under study

10

10

--

No required to be reported

128

105

(18%)

Rejected

--

--

--

No-objection

172

202

+17%

Pending

3

--

--

Total applications

313

318

+2%

 

The manufacturing industries sector accounted for 33% of total applications. It was followed by information and telecommunications with 19%, then wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles with 11%.

 

Economic Concentration Applications by Sector

Sector

Percentage

Manufacturing

33%

Information and communications

19%

Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles

11%

Transportation & storage

5%

Other sectors

32%

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