Despite being the world’s biggest oil company, Saudi Aramco can’t get listed on the NYSE or LSE, and here’s why:
Aramco keeps a lot of info under wraps. They don’t share enough about their finances or operations, which makes it tough to meet the strict disclosure rules of Western stock exchanges.
The Saudi government controls everything at Aramco. For a company to be listed in New York or London, it needs independent governance. Aramco doesn’t have that, which is a huge issue.
Listing on these exchanges means dealing with lots of legal scrutiny and potential lawsuits. With Saudi Arabia’s controversial track record, Aramco would face serious legal and regulatory hurdles.
Aramco’s association with fossil fuels and controversial issues like human rights and geopolitical conflicts make it a hard sell in Western markets focused on ESG criteria.
There’s skepticism about how much oil Aramco actually has. Without independent verification, investors are wary, making it difficult for Aramco to achieve a listing.