Saudi Arabia plans to almost double the size of its stock market, among the most closed in the world, by adding dozens of companies and making it easier for foreigners to invest. The kingdom aims to attract privately owned firms to list while privatization by the government will also boost the market, said Mohammed Al-Jadaan, chairman of the Capital Market Authority, the country’s regulator. The Tadawul All Share Index will increase to 250 companies from about 170 now and its $380 billion market capitalization will grow to match the size of Saudi gross domestic product within seven years, he said. Bloomberg spent five hours talking to Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his palace compound in Riyadh. Read the full transcript . The government wants to “make sure that the market becomes a real representative of the economy in terms of size,” Al-Jadaan said at the royal […]