Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The fund's investments in domestic infrastructure and real estate development grew 15% year-on-year to 233 billion riyals, while its foreign investments increased 14% to 586 billion riyals. The days of viewing Saudi Arabia as a mere financial reservoir are ending," Tarik Solomon, chairman emeritus at the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia, told CNBC. watch nowSaudi Arabia's recently-updated Investment Law seeks to attract more foreign investment as well — and it's set itself a lofty goal of $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment by 2030. Spurring greater foreign buy-in "should also ease the burden that has recently been placed on the Public Investment Fund to offset the weaker foreign investment into the Kingdom," he added.

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Persons: Tarik Solomon, —, Solomon, James Swanston, We've, Swanston Organizations: Getty Images, Public Investment Fund, Saudi, American Chamber of Commerce, CNBC, Eastern, Saudi Arabia's, Gulf, Capital Economics Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Saudi, James Swanston , Middle East, Africa