Saudi has opened up foreign investment into real estate firms in its holy cities this week, a move that will support religious travel.

Saudi Arabia said it will begin allowing foreigners to invest in publicly-traded companies owning real estate in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah for the first time as the kingdom looks to draw in more overseas investment.

Saudi Arabia's market regulator announced on Monday that foreign investors can now invest in listed companies owning real estate in Mecca and Medina. The move is part of the kingdom's efforts to attract global investment and enhance liquidity for projects in these key religious cities.