Saudi Cabinet Approves SAR 1.3 Trillion 2026 Budget

Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers, chaired by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has approved the general state budget for fiscal year 2026, setting total expenditure at about SAR 1,313 billion (roughly SAR 1.3 trillion) in an expansionary spending plan aimed at supporting national priorities.

Under the approved figures, total revenues for 2026 are projected at SAR 1,147 billion, leaving a fiscal deficit of about SAR 165 billion, equal to around 3.3% of GDP. That marks a narrowing from an estimated deficit of SAR 245 billion, or 5.3% of GDP, in 2025.

The fiscal stance for 2026 is described as expansionary and counter-cyclical, with spending channeled toward economic diversification, projects with social and economic impact, and goals tied to رؤية السعودية 2030. Core services — education, health, social services, and municipal services — are allocated about SAR 533 billion.

Why it matters

For residents and businesses, continued spending on schools, hospitals, and municipal services signals steady investment in everyday public services. The plan points to a medium-term path in which expenditure rises to SAR 1,350 billion in 2027 and SAR 1,419 billion in 2028, while revenues climb to SAR 1,230 billion and SAR 1,294 billion respectively.

The deficit is projected to keep shrinking to about SAR 125 billion, or 2.2% of GDP, by 2028. Central government debt is expected to reach around 32.7% of GDP in 2026, up from 31.7% in 2025, with total financing needs for the year estimated at SAR 217 billion. Detailed revenue, expenditure, deficit, and public debt figures are published through the official 2026 budget statement documents.

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