Saudi Business Confidence Rises to 56.7 in August

Business confidence in Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector edged higher in August 2026, with the Business Confidence Index reaching 56.7 points, up from 56.5 points in July. The reading reflects continued optimism among establishments across the Kingdom, according to data issued by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The index rose 0.3% month-on-month, a 0.2-point increase between July and August. Because it remains well above the 50-point threshold, the figure signals that a majority of businesses expect activity to expand rather than contract in the period ahead.

Sector performance

Confidence in the industry sector climbed to 55.8 points in August, up 1.04 points from 54.7 points in July, driven by stronger sentiment on overall performance and employment prospects. The services sector rose to 56.1 points from 55.3 points, an increase of 0.9 points, supported by greater optimism around performance and fixed investment spending.

Construction remained the most optimistic sector at 57.3 points, though this was down 0.4 points from 57.7 points in July. The dip was linked to weaker confidence over current and expected input costs for the coming month. In the overall ranking, construction led, followed by services and then industry.

The Business Confidence Index measures non-oil business sectors only and is based on establishment surveys assessing expectations for outputs, inputs, employment, and business expansion. It is an economic sentiment indicator and does not involve any fees, licensing payments, or government-service validity periods.

For residents and business owners, the steady reading points to a stable environment for hiring and investment across much of the private sector, a positive signal for those planning to launch or grow ventures in the Kingdom.

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